Confiscated C5 Corvette Now Educates Florida Students about Drugs and Crime

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What a difference a year makes!

Back in April of 2014, a red 1999 Corvette was leading Citrus County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office deputies on a high-speed chase of more than 100 mph.

Fast forward to October 2015, and that same Corvette – now painted white with numerous green decals, including a large 911 on the driver’s door – is being used by the sheriff’s office to warn students of the dangers of drugs.

The former owner of the car, Bryan Leonard Stevens, now 60, was charged with fleeing deputies, possessing drug paraphernalia and possessing a controlled substance found in his Corvette during a search.

The sheriff’s office eventually confiscated the car and invested about $10,000 into repairs and modifications like recycled emergency lights and equipment to transform the Corvette into the department’s next poster car for drug and crime awareness in its FOCUS program (Filtering Out Crime United With Students), according to a story in the Citrus County Chronicle.

“They’re designed to bring interest to our program and what we do,” Sgt. Ron Frink said of the Corvette and other cars used in the FOCUS program. “It gets our programs out there, it gets us involved with the kids and it gets us involved with the parents.”

Frink said the Corvette is a great way to display every school program run by the sheriff’s office, including FOCUS and the Teen Driver Challenge in high school.

“What we wanted was something for the older kids. … We wanted to showcase all the programs we teach,” Frink said.

The Corvette – complete with a “Confiscated Vehicle” sticker – made its official debut during Lecanto High School’s Homecoming Parade on Oct. 23.

Frink, who oversees school resource officers at 11 elementary schools, said fifth graders attend a graduation ceremony each year after completing a 10-week FOCUS course, where Sheriff Jeff Dawsy and the school resource officers honor students. We wouldn’t be surprised if the Corvette makes an appearance this year, too.

“It’s pretty neat to see the top brass in the sheriff’s office there in honor of our fifth-graders,” Frink said.

We’re also glad to see this quote in the Chronicle from the former owner of the Corvette:

“Anything that the police will do to make children more aware of bad situations, I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Stevens said.

While he’s still on probation for the charges earned that day in 2014, Stevens says he’s glad to see his former car being used for a good cause.


Source:
chronicleonline.com

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1 COMMENT

  1. 2008 corvette lt1 with procharger, 13/4″ long tube headers, full 31/2″ stainless steel exhaust, methanol injection, custom body graphics, air brushed rail covers, line lock, 10 rims with tires, boost and fuel pressure gauges corvette logo carpets. 585 hp to rear wheels. one owner car.

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