New Year's Holiday Quiet For Police

To reference a classic movie, it appeared all quiet on the western front in Highlands County on New Year's Eve.

Local authorities reported that festivities were generally on the calm side and residents, for the most part, were on their best behavior, especially when getting behind the wheel.

"It was actually very slow," said Lt. Bruce Crum, with the Sebring Police Department, who added he had no reports of any individuals being arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs.

Capt. Jeff Barfield, with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, said between 12:01 a.m., Dec. 31 and 11:59 p.m., Jan 1, there were no DUI arrests.

"We did have extra people out," Barfield said. "Maybe the public's getting the message."

For the period between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, Barfield said there were five domestic violence cases that resulted in arrests. Deputies also responded to "typical" calls such as loud noise.

Arrest reports from the HCSO's central records office show that nine people were apprehended on New Year's Eve.

Three of those arrests were for probation violation, four were on felony charges and the other two were for misdemeanors.

Many local revelers rang in 2009 with fireworks, making it seem like the Fourth of July. Chief Brad Batz, with the city of Sebring Fire Department, said they did not receive calls of the explosives being used improperly, nor were there reports of injuries.

"We didn't have anything out of the ordinary or anything like that for New Year's Eve," Batz said.

Lake Placid Police Chief Phil Williams said Dec. 31 was "kind of quiet," with the exception of a few illegal burns. On New Year's Day, he was informed that one person was arrested on narcotics charges.

"Someone started out the new year wrong," Williams said.