A stolen vehicle has been recovered and two drug offenders have been arrested following a traffic stop during school zone traffic enforcement efforts near Southwest Middle School
On August 31st around 7:55 a.m., an officer was performing school zone traffic enforcement in the area of Southwest Middle School. While on patrol in the area, the officer observed a black passenger car travelling above the posted 15 mph school zone speed limit. The officer’s radar confirmed that the vehicle was travelling at 32 mph. A traffic stop on the vehicle was initiated and it came to a stop in the roadway entering the Southwest Middle School parking lot. The officer made contact with the driver, identified as 31-year-old Joseph Romero of Rapid City.
As the officer checked Romero’s registration and driver’s license status, dispatch advised the officer that the vehicle had been reported as stolen out of Belle Fourche. Additional law enforcement units were requested to the scene of the stop. Both Romero and a passenger, identified as 29-year-old Richard Floersch of Rapid City, were ordered out of the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle turned up a baggie containing a substance which field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
Both occupants were placed under arrest for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Romero was placed under arrest for the additional offences of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Speeding in a School Zone, a Warrant, and a Parole Hold.
There is no indication that either occupant of the vehicle had any relationship to the school, its staff or its students.
