Some parents have raised concerns after two York-Poquoson Sheriff’s deputies sped through a neighborhood with dozens of children trick or treating Thursday night.
They posted about the incident in the Langley Family Housing community group on Facebook.
One of those parents was Jake Brewer.
“I was just out trick or treating with my kids and I hear the sirens,” Brewer, resident of Bethel Manor, said. “I see two York-Poquoson Sheriff’s deputies ––– if I had to guess, there were going 50 to 65 mph.”
Brewer said he is pro-law enforcement, noting his father was a cop for nearly 30 years, but feels the speeding was excessive.
“It was just ridiculous,” Brewer said. “There were already security forces [on base].”
Brewer said he posted on the York-Poquoson’s Sheriff Office Facebook page and was told the deputies were responding to a fight.
When WYDaily informed him the altercation ended once law enforcement arrived, Brewer said it just goes to show the deputies going that fast was not necessary.
“If we were going half the speed, we would be arrested and charged with reckless driving, Brewer said.
“I could understand 30,” Brewer said. “On Halloween when you know there are kids everywhere…you’re going so fast you’re not gonna have times to react to that.”
“I’m just worried about the kids,” he added.
Brewer said there is the possibility of hitting a child and then someone is dead over the deputies driving fast just trying to get to an altercation.
Around 7:40 p.m. on Halloween, the deputies responded to an “emergency” call about a fight at the Bethel Manor shoppette, said Sheriff J.D. “Danny” Diggs.
Once deputies arrived, the fight was over.
“We got there, the fight was resolved,” Diggs said.
He noted one of the deputies who responded hit max speeds of 41 mph and the other hit a max speed of 50 mph.–––
Speed limit for the Langley Family Housing neighborhood is 15 mph.
“The law allows us to exceed the speed limit and they had red lights and sirens going,” Diggs said.
“I’m sure our deputies took into consideration the nature of the call and what the traffic conditions were,” he added.
When WYDaily initially asked to speak with Diggs about the incident on Halloween, he accused WYDaily of not having contact with any of the parents at Langley off-base housing.
Diggs said WYDaily saw a comment on Facebook and alluded the comment was from someone who supported the candidate running against Diggs.
When asked if Diggs thought this was politically motivated and someone wanted to undermine the election, Diggs did not respond.
