As the New Year rang in, the City of Mesquite Police and Fire Department took to the streets, ensuring residents could enjoy the festivities without falling prey to reckless celebrations. In a show of proactive law enforcement, teams were set up across the city to curb the illegal use of fireworks, deter celebratory gunfire, and crack down on Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). According to the City of Mesquite's official release, 58 pounds of fireworks were confiscated, and three firearms were seized over the holiday period, punctuating the efforts to maintain order.
Mesquite's resolve to keep roads safe from impaired drivers saw the police making an arresting impression. Eleven individuals were arrested on charges of DWI, including a grave incident involving intoxication manslaughter following a highway crash on IH-20 on January 1. The crash claimed the lives of four people, struck by a drunk driver as they were engaged in the seemingly safe act of changing a tire on the highway shoulder, as detailed by the Mesquite Police Department Traffic Unit's ongoing investigation.
On the fire-fighting front, officers expeditiously responded to two minor fires in structures caused by the careless handling of fireworks. Though minor, these incidents are stark reminders of the dangers inherent in fireworks festivities. Mercifully, as the City of Mesquite declared in its public announcement, these blazes did not physically harm residents.
