George A. Salazar
Tennessee Highway Patrol Interdiction Plus West Bureau Sergeant Wayne Dunkleman apprehended a fugitive from justice who was wanted for two counts of child molestation on Monday.
While working the THP Giles County Commercial Vehicle Scales Complex, Sergeant Dunkleman observed a commercial vehicle that was on the scales to be weighed with a low safety rating. The low safety rating prompted Sergeant Dunkleman to have the driver park his tractor-trailer and come inside for an inspection. As the safety inspection was being performed, Sergeant Dunkleman performed a check of the driver George A. Salazar, 41, of Tulare, Ca., through the Blue Lighting Operation Center (BLOC).
The check through BLOC came back with a positive hit confirmation that Salazar was wanted out of Tulare, for two counts of child molestation. Salazar was arrested and transported to the Giles County Sheriff’s Office where he is awaiting extradition to California.
“This is a great example of how troopers are looking beyond the initial contact with a person and are therefore removing dangerous individuals off of the roadway,” Colonel Tracy Trott said.