A Push in to Custody

It had been an extremely hot and slow evening in the small southern county, and Deputy Celina Adams was in her third week of training with Sgt. Burke. They stopped at a corner market to grab a coke and to chat a while. After they returned to their patrol car Sgt. Burke swung the vehicle around to face the intersection. He noticed a car stop at the red light, the light turned to green, but the vehicle just sat there. Finally, the driver got out. It was a young man not much more than 20 years old. He began to walk around to the rear of the car.

Sgt. Burke got out of his cruiser and told Celina he would be right back. This guy looked like he needed some help. As he approached the dark colored Chevy Camaro on foot, Burke radioed in the tag number and advised the dispatcher he would be assisting a broken down motorist at the intersection of Main Street and 3 Avenue. The young man told Sgt. Burke he didn't know what was wrong, the car just died on him. He asked for assistance pushing the car across the street to the Exxon station. Burke hollered at Celina, who by that time was standing outside the patrol car watching Sgt. Burke, and she ran over to help out. The young driver got into his vehicle to steer and Burke and Celina pushed the car across to the opposite corner, to the Exxon station. The driver advised Sgt. Burke he would call his father to come and assist him, as his father was a mechanic. Burke and Celina walked back to their car and departed the area. They had gotten about two blocks away and just started to advise the dispatcher they were back in service for calls, when the dispatcher crackled across the radio "Tomahawk 10 are you still with that vehicle?" Sgt. Burke responded "no, we're about two blocks away". Dispatcher Summer Knight said "Well you better get back in a hurry. That car was stolen from Muckville, just this morning."

Sgt. Burke quickly turned around and headed back to the Exxon station. He pulled his patrol car behind the Camaro and noticed the young car thief going through the trunk. As Sgt. Burke and Celina approached the driver he just glanced over his shoulder quickly and stated "officer everything is ok, the car is broken down, my father is on the way to give me a ride and two officers already helped me a few minutes ago". Sgt. Burke grabbed the young man stating "we will be the only ride you will need this evening". He placed the handcuffs on his wrists and advised the thief he was under arrest for grand theft auto. He was also advised by Deputy Celina Adams of his Miranda rights. He was transported to the county jail and booked for grand theft auto. It was a Good evening. The deputies were at the right place at the right time. Case closed by arrest.

"He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need." Ephesians 4:28

Chance Happening-Purse Snatcher

Sgt. Burke and Deputy Adams were patrolling the north end of the county half way through the 3pm-11pm shift. They were traveling westbound on Renegade Road. It had been one of those quiet and boring night shifts so far. As they continued patrolling an unknown crime was occurring about a mile away. An elderly couple, Dick and Jane Parker were emerging from a store in the Universal Shopping Plaza at the corner of Park Road and Meridian Road. The Parkers were waiting for the walk light to cross Park Road northward to the west gate of the apartment complex where they lived.

Just before the Parkers were about to cross the road, Dick glanced over his shoulder and noticed a youth lurking in the darkened area a dozen feet behind them. As they attempted to cross, the youth ran and snatched Jane's pocketbook from her shoulder, knocking her to the ground. Dick turned and gave chase and fell in the soft sand. He picked himself up and gave chase again, shouting "Police-Help!". Dick chased the youth into the dark alley in back of the shopping plaza, where the youth got into the right passenger seat of a waiting red car. The red car took off with four young occupants. Dick was unable to obtain the license plate number. Breathless, Dick ran back to the store area to check on his wife and to call the Sheriff's Department. He reported the crime and gave a description of the purse snatch culprit, and said he had fled the scene in a red Ford with other occupants in the car. The dispatcher told Dick to stay where he was and that a patrol car would be there in a few minutes. She said they would also be sending an ambulance to check on his wife, who received a few scratches from her fall.

In their desperate rush to get away, the culprits in the red car were traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on Meridian Road. Sgt. Burke and Deputy Adams both observed this car run the red light at the corner of Renegade Road. Sgt. Burke stopped the red 4 door Ford, bearing a Florida tag, for the traffic violation.

Several young girls riding around the area at the time observed the purse snatcher running with Jane's pocketbook, and gave a short chase in their car. They were able to get the cars description and tag number. They returned to the scene of the purse snatching and met with Dick Parker. They gave Dick the information and he called the...