Friday, April 4, 2014

More eyeballs

My Monday night effort to use crowdsourcing to identify the make and model of the vehicle involved in tossing four Molotov cocktails last week paid off. Several readers definitively pinpointed this as a first generation Neon (1995-1999)--including an FBI agent in another state who reads the Director's Desk.

Wednesday morning around 7:00 AM, a Crimestoppers tip was received from a person who had spotted a vehicle parked on the street in the vicinity of S. 50th and South Streets, with a pretty poor attempt at a car cover. The source mentioned two of the specific descriptors contained in my Monday night post, and knew that these matched the arson vehicle. Looks like he or she is a reader of my blog.

Dagnabbit, every time I think about calling it off and recapturing a few hours of my personal life, something like this happens that makes me rethink the value of blogging. In any event, the car has been seized, the suspect has been identified, and his surrender for arrest is presently being negotiated. These offenses will be cleared, and social media provided the key information.

It is the golden age of criminal investigations, suspects are leaving trails of evidence our predecessors could hardly imagine. No way a camera would have captured such images during the first 35 years of my career. We are still trying to figure out the best thing to do with these relatively new information streams. In some circumstances, keeping the cards close to the vest is the best police strategy. In most, however, engaging thousands of more eyeballs in the search is vastly preferable.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm happy that this crime was solved. This is is a very good example of why you should not stop blogging, Tom! And kudos to those super observant readers.

Anonymous said...

Reading this just makes me feel good. This cretin puts property and lives at risk for--what--fun? Any punishment he gets won't be enough, in my books.

Steve said...

Glad you found the car and the suspect(s). I was watching for it after your blog an the post on Facebook I saw. I thought I might have seen the vehicle traveling south on 70th just south of O on my way home the other day, but I was in the wrong lane to turn and follow so that I could be more sure of it. I didn't figure calling it in would do much good, even if it was the right car, by the time I could have made the call.

Anonymous said...

Great job by the public and LPD! I've been reading your blog for years. I kind'a liked this crowdsourcing one this time... I think you'd aught'a try it a little more in the future - it's an interesting insight into what LPD and other departments have to face everyday on trying to solve what seems like unsolvable cases. I know there's CrimeStoppers, but there's nothing like the Director's Desk (formerly the Chief's Corner wasn't it?)!

Anonymous said...

Do the suspects still need to be booked? I don't see anyone charged with arson or attempted arson in the book-in photos on the LJS. Then again, maybe they're minors and it's in juvie court...

Anonymous said...

Oh, I see, the arsonist has already lawyered up, and will curiously be allowed to turn himself in (instead of the having his family publicly embarrassed in front of the neighbors), unlike many other violent felons who potentially endanger lives. I wonder why they didn't let that burglary suspect in the 37th & Holdrege area turn himself in later. Maybe he should have tried to burn the building down, along with the occupants, instead of just doing a B&E,

Tom Casady said...

11:07,

Hasn't been booked yet. Our suspect has agreed to surrender himself for booking next week.

3:31,

There is a strategy involved, and more than meets the eye.

Anonymous said...

@3:31, I don't think you understand what's going on. If LPD knew where the suspect was or happens to find him before he turns himself in, he will be arrested on sight. You should chill out.

Anonymous said...

What puts the creep in any position to "negotiate" his arrest? The guy should immediately be arrested with no deals and then put in the electric chair.

Anonymous said...

7:40,

Nature abhors a vacuum. People, being natural creatures, are no different, and will venture guesses when an inadequate amount of information is disseminated. Let's venture some guesses as to why they might be allowed to "negotiate". Child or close relative of a family with political heft; a mayoral aide's son, a large political donor's nephew, a council member's daughter, a state legislator's little brother. Anything is possible, like a flyover country version of a Kennedy clan black sheep. One might wonder, had they hailed from 31st & Dudley St, if they'd be allowed to "negotiate" their arrest.

Then again, they might be the kingpin of an international arson ring, negotiating to turn State's evidence and drop a dime on the entire organization. Who am I to second-guess? I'm just a lowly, craven taxpayer.

Anonymous said...

Or it could be (more likely) the suspect's where abouts are unknown and LPD can't arrest him as immediately as they would like. Negotiating a surrender is much better than having the suspect in the wind don't you think?

Too bad so many people believe what they watch on TV and are therefore prone to so many conspiracy theories.

Anonymous said...

"Too bad so many people believe what they watch on TV..."

Much like yourself, I imagine. Unlike you, I don't live in front of the boob tube. Get the court to issue an arrest warrant, publish the name, and then you'll have many, many people looking for the suspect. "More eyeballs", remember?

Tom Casady said...

Patience, please. We have our reasons and our plans, and I'm not sharing them on my blog at the moment.

Steve said...

Everyone needs to chill a little. Don't be so quick to assume the police don't know what they're doing or are incompetent. They certainly know more than the rest of us regarding the circumstances of this case.

You don't necessarily want the public out looking for a fugitive, especially if the fugitive might be armed or dangerous. I'd suggest anyone throwing Molotov cocktails might well be both.

I'm sure the police will arrest this guy as soon as they can do so without further endangering the public, another reason they may be negotiating for his surrender. Remember what just happened with the fugitive meth dealer? He broke into someone's apartment during his escape attempt. Fortunately, he was caught before he hurt anyone else.

Anonymous said...

"Much like yourself, I imagine. Unlike you, I don't live in front of the boob tube. Get the court to issue an arrest warrant, publish the name, and then you'll have many, many people looking for the suspect. "More eyeballs", remember?"

What, are you in the 3rd grade?

Anonymous said...

Tom, "Dagnabbit." That's funny! Was that from The Beverly Hillbillies? (Wow...showing my age now!)

Anonymous said...

After scanning the crime mapping web page I could not find any of these crimes that were committed by this alleged vehicle (arson?). Probably operator error on my part could you help to explain.