CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Police Chief Steve Cooper says the department’s Hybrid Unit was successful in its first uncover operation at the Charleston Town Center Mall.
Eight people were arrested on various charges Monday, Cooper said during an appearance Tuesday on 580-Live on 580 WCHS Radio with Charleston Mayor Danny Jones.
“They went into the mall for three or four hours and they ended up making eight arrests. One of the guys they arrested had 20 warrants,” Cooper said.
Cooper believes the mall’s security concerns in large part stem from the illegal activity that happens at the Transit Mall a block away. The Hybrid Unit is focusing part of its efforts on the area.
“The (911) calls for service to the Charleston Town Center have skyrocketed in the large couple of years. Calls where people are being harassed, there are fights. We get a lot calls about needles in the bathrooms,” Cooper said. “We’re checking some of these areas that the regular patrons wouldn’t be in.”
Cooper also announced Tuesday he’s made Lt. Autumn Davis, who has headed up the department’s Professional Standards Division, the department’s Public Information Officer.
“I feel like we need to streamline our communications so that all media outlets are given equal treatment and access to media stories and I think this is the way to do it,” Cooper said.
Davis has served in a number of roles during her time with CPD including assistant chief of detectives and head of the traffic division.