By Staff
Melissa Cason
New Year's Eve is traditionally a busy traffic holiday. It is also a time when drivers decide they can drive home after several drinks, putting life and property at risk for them and other motorists.
Local and state law enforcement make extra efforts to patrol the streets with more officers during holiday driving periods.
The Russellville Police Department is no exception. Extra officers were patrolling the streets Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
"We get grant money from the state highway department to work traffic overtime during holiday periods," Police Chief Chris Hargett said
As a result of the department's efforts, several arrests were made during the evening to help keep drunk and impaired drivers off the roadway.
Hargett said Curtis Kennedy, 18, of 5500 Ligon Springs Road in Russellville, Brian Keith Bullington, 33, of 3250 Colbert Mill Road in Russellville, and Robbie Shannon Strickland, 33, of 66 Lagrange Road in Russellville, were all charged with driving under the influence.
Officers set up a driver's license check on the southbound lane of Hwy. 43 North, and several vehicles were towed in accordance with the city's ordinance on unlicensed drivers.
In addition to the towed vehicles, canine handler, Officer Chad Sheffield, brought out Viigo for drug detection on a suspected vehicle.
Viigo indicated that the vehicle had drugs inside, and officers conducted a search on the vehicle.
As a result of the search, Bullington was taken into custody and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.