Got Speed?

So I was cruising through a 7-11 parking lot, and happened to notice a white panel van at the gas pumps.  It was 4am and anyone up at that time deserves a second look, so I run the license plate and pull alongside.  I make eye contact with the driver, and then I pull out of the lot.  Sure enough the registered owner of the van shows to have a suspended driver’s license, so I make a U-turn to return.

The van pulls out of the lot, at high speed, and the chase is on!  We’re doing 80mph, in a 30mph zone, and before I can make the decision to terminate the pursuit the van blows through 2 red lights!  The intersections were just 50 yards apart, so it all happened pretty quickly.  Luckily the van just missed the pedestrian.  (NOTE:  ALWAYS looks both ways even if you have the right of way!)

I come screaming around a corner, and the suspect has quickly pulled to the curb.  I dynamite my brakes and stop just a few feet shy of his rear bumper.  I’m out of the car, gun in hand, and see the driver’s door open.  I think he was hoping for the fat lazy cop?  I shout, “Turn the %^&% car off!  Toss the keys out!”  Most of the time, when they make a quick stop, they run on foot.  This guy weighed the odds and realized I would’ve hunted him down.

I walk up to the open driver’s door, point my gun at the two occupants, and calmly say, “Grab the $%^$ steering wheel and don’t move.  Passenger?  Grab the dash.  Anyone moves and I put a bullet in your head.”  I then ask, “So were you running because you have a suspended license?” and the driver says, “Yes.  I’m suspended.”  After the arrest I find burglary tools (29 house and car keys, bolt cutters, flashlights, pry bars, and screw drivers), two bicycles, and a ton of CD’s/DVD’s.

Find out that the driver, and passenger (who had warrant for Escape and Forgery), both have multiple convictions for Burglary, Eluding Police, Obstructing, Assault, Theft, Escape, and Forgery.  Go figure.  The funny part of the whole thing was that after I give the guy his Miranda Rights, he suddenly changes his story, “I didn’t run no red lights!  I never saw you!”  Uh-huh…

Tell me again why we let these people breathe air?

J

Too young

I use to make several drug and vice contacts, in a shift, but have lost the motivation.  Now, I just try to find the bad guys on crimes, where there is a solid victim.  It gets old responding to the guy, who was “robbed”, by a hooker.  The drug addict ripped off on a drug buy, “Strong armed robbery just occurred.  Victim reports suspect stole $20 on a drug deal gone bad…”  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!  

Yes, we honestly get those calls.  Usually, the drug dealer has sold fake crack, or just grabbed the $20 and ran.  We honestly put forth no effort on those calls, but it is sad that we even have to respond. 

Maybe I am getting too cynical?

I’m even finding it hard to take the stolen auto reports from the citizens, who leave the keys in their car.  Seems to me that you willingly gave your car away. 

So I enjoy the burglaries, the “good” robberies, where there is an honest victim, and other such calls.  To pass time I make a few traffic stops, but seldom give tickets.  Mostly, I run license plates and stop the vehicles, where the registered owner has a suspended driving license.  I usually get about 4 suspended drivers in a shift.

I recently had a good traffic stop, where I was once again reminded how futile the fight is.  I stopped this girl for driving on the wrong side of the road.  No, she wasn’t DUI, just had no driving experience and thought she was on a one-way street.  She told me that she had no license on her person and gave me a false name and date of birth.

I knew she was lying and told her so, but she claimed she was telling the truth, so I returned to my patrol car and ran a check.  Sure enough, “No record”.  I walked up, put her in handcuffs, and told her, “Ok, so now you have one last chance to give me your real name and date of birth, before I throw you in a windowless cell for half the day.  I’ll finger print you, photograph you, eventually find out who you are, and then book you into jail…another windowless cell, so you can be punished for lying.”

She gave me her true name and date of birth.  I told the backing officers that the last time I had a female motorist lie about her identity, she was a 14 year old hooker.  Sure enough, this girl was also 14, and hooking to survive.  She ran away from home, because mom didn’t pay her any attention.  I spoke with the cop in the small town she ran away from, and he was aware of her and the mother.

Turns out mom is well known by all the cops, and most men, in town.  The live in boyfriend is a methamphetamine freak, and so is mom.  The runaway daughter…No chance.  I drove her all the way back to her home town, and handed her over to the small town cop.  She told me, “I’m going to run away again.  California I think.  I like to wear mini-skirts and tank tops.”  Nice to know she has her priorities straight.  She seems to think, or pretends, that being a hooker is a glamorous lifestyle.  Sad.

J