Public Safety

William E. Flippen, 39, who listed addresses in Galax and Statesville, N.C., was arrested on Feb. 19 after a traffic stop  on a felony drug charge.
Sgt. Shawny Jones of the Galax Police Department had stopped a vehicle operated by Flippen for exceeding the posted speed limit.
Observations by Jones during the traffic stop caused him to request the assistance of Officer Jacob Vaughan and his police canine, Dunja.  

Drugs continue to be the motivating factor in the increase of property and violent crimes in the city, Galax Police Chief Rick Clark told Galax City Council on Feb. 13.
During 2011, the Galax Police Department recorded 1,375 crimes, compared to 1,242 in 2010 — a 10.7 percent increase.
“Many are using burglary to feed their drug habit,” said Clark.
The police department recorded 18,951 calls for service last year — an 18.7 percent increase from 15,965 in 2010.

HILLSVILLE — A 21-year-old Claudeville man has been charged with dealing drugs and 195 Oxycontin pills were seized after a Carroll County deputy initiated a traffic stop Feb. 9.
Carroll Sheriff J.B. Gardner said that Phillip Christopher Sias, a passenger in the vehicle, faces a charge of possessing schedule II drugs with the intent to distribute after the traffic stop near St. Paul Elementary School.