Police officers know there is no such thing as a routine day, but a DUI checkpoint in York County over the weekend serves as a sign of just how dangerous a job it is.
State troopers from York and Lancaster counties along with local police agencies set up the checkpoint Saturday.
They had to chase down two drivers who drove over the median trying to avoid going through the checkpoint. One of them threw bags of heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana out the window during the pursuit. He was apprehended after he drove his vehicle into a wall. The other driver was quickly taken into custody for drunk driving.
Another driver tried to drive right through the checkpoint, heading right at two officers. They got him for driving under the influence of cocaine.
Then another vehicle was stopped as police smelled marijuana. As they were taking him and his four passengers out of the vehicle, one passenger tried to pull a gun from his waistband, and the others were uncooperative. Searching the vehicle an officer was exposed to a heroin/fentanyl mix and had to be taken to the hospital. The passenger with the gun was tackled to the ground and police later found he had an outstanding warrant from Maryland.
Aside from the officer who came into contact with the drugs, no other law enforcement personnel were hurt during the checkpoint.
