My post last Friday about auto theft generated quite a few comments. One of those, posted on Monday at 2:20 PM, was from a reader who noted a Sunday auto theft case with a depressingly common modus operandi: the victim had left the car running, unlocked, with the keys in the ignition.
Well, around 2:00 AM on Tuesday morning, Officer Jason Wesch, who took the initial report, made a nice find when he spotted the stolen Pontiac parked at 10th and B Streets--just a few blocks from the initial theft. As he approached the car, he was surprised to see a subject exit the door and dash.
The suspect was taken into custody, all 4'5" and 106 lbs. of him, after a short foot pursuit. Short indeed. You can't get much speed up with that kind of stride length. This errant 14 year old is off to quite a start, as this is the 11th time we've made the juvenile equivalent of an adult arrest on him. His mug shot is so cute, you just want to squeeze his little cheeks. I hope something happens that changes his trajectory.
Something tells me that he will never turn his life around. One would think that maybe he would have learned after the second or third time, but after 11, I highly doubt it. This is truly sad.
ReplyDeleteWould definitely be interested in seeing if his family life is what I am perceiving it to be.
There is so much here that just has me shaking my head in shame.
Chief - I got caught in one of your "speed traps" yesterday. I giggled as I was waiting for my ticket, (a warning thank goodness), thinking about all the lovely comments you get on your blog about them. It actually kind of made my day.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that every morning a certain captain is allowed to park his unmarked vehicle on the front line on the west side of the building. Isn't this prohibited and haven't Inv. and Det. been written up for this? Hum
ReplyDeleteI'd really like to see that mug shot. I'm of the belief that when a juvenile is charged with a felony crime, they've indicated that they wish to be treated like an adult, so society should give them their wish. Name and mug shot released, juvie record unsealed, and so forth.
ReplyDeleteThat little darling will probably wind up just like this young role model did. When that time comes, his mother (and all of his friends) will likely blame everyone and everything else.
8:44-
ReplyDeleteI really don't like the Chief's Corner becoming the venue for the monthly round of "bash the captain", but in this case, I probably must respond. Unless you know something I don't (and I wrote the General Orders), the rule on parking "on the front line" is as follows (2040 II.D.2.):
The west line is for short-term parking of police department and sheriff’s vehicles only.
There's nothing in there about marked or unmarked, and never has been. The whole concept was to keep those stalls turning over with people who had short-term needs: lineup, a meeting, a court appearance, pick up some equipment, drop of some evidence, etc.
To the best of my knowledge the only problems we've had are occasional instances in which an employee have failed the admittedly vague "short term" test. It's vague on purpose: when you called to court you don't know if it's five minutes or two hours. The report at the Service Desk that you expected to be 15 minutes can stretch to an hour. I think we all understand that.
It's a different matter when you leave your car there all day while attending training, or working a regular shift at a desk job.
If you want to demonstrate otherwise to me, I'm all ears. Off blog, though, please. The Chief's Corner is not intended for the airing of laundry.
Speaking of leaving things unlocked, recent burglary incident A9-014333 happened about a good 5-iron shot from my front door. They stole some papers, "ENTRY PSBLY GAINED THRU UNLKD DOOR 3 COPIES OF WILL, DEED TO RESIDENCE". I had a few suspicions regarding this one. The house has been in trust since about 2006. Some of the North side windows are sometimes covered in tinfoil, as if trying to keep heat (or more to the point, a heat signature) from escaping. The immediate neighbors are under the impression that a younger man stops by from time to time, then leaves. The yard is poorly maintained most of the time. The garage door seems to be open quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteYou just nailed a small dope farm operation a few blocks away from there a couple of months ago in this same RD (105). It wouldn't surprise me too much if someone was either cooking or growing "something" in this burgled house. Is there more to this one, or is it just a run-of-the-mill burglary?
Funny. When he gets sent to prison and an inmate says, "He's just so cute and that he wants to "squeeze his little cheeks" it won't be nearly the same tone as in your posting... He'd beter change his trajectory soon... =)
ReplyDeleteNews Flash:
ReplyDeleteTwo more youths (ages 14 & 15) were arrested this morning around 5:45 AM when Officer Jeff Sorensen saw them driving a stolen car that had just been involved in a gas drive off right across the street from police HQ. After a short pursuit and a minor crash, the pair bailed and ran, but were quickly rounded up by the Southwest Team. One of the two had cut off his ankle-bracelet monitor (probation and home detention from prior crimes) to leave home and carouse. Looks as if these arrests will clear several other car thefts. Today's ride, by the way, was unlocked with the keys in the console. Lovely.
Lovely, indeed! While I don't at all support any sort of crime, I also don't feel sorry for those that are too lazy or, stupid, to remove the keys and lock the doors upon exiting their vehicles.
ReplyDeleteDitto Homes, Garages, etc.
Larceny from auto A9-015239: I hope that duffel bag wasn't where it could be seen from outside the unoccupied vehicle, because that could be extremely embarrassing, for the obvious reason.
ReplyDeleteSo much for the effectiveness of the ankle bracelet alternative to jail that all the anti-new jail people tout. That is the second or third one I recall reading about recently where the bracelet was cut off. I remember reading they are "charged" for it, but does the city ever get the money? I doubt it. Put these multiple repeat offenders in jail where they belong, and we'll stop having so much crime.
ReplyDelete5:02-
ReplyDeleteYes, I recall one earlier this month (comments, three up from bottom) another one last fall, too. There are probably more--these are just the cases that came up on my blog.
he says don't bash the chief on the blog. however he can bash everyone else on a daily basis...lets get to the trueth straight,
ReplyDeletehe says meet with him off blog and get things resolved.hmm have anyone else triedto get a one on one with the cheif and get laughed at....( boo hoo he's simply too busy)..why do that...chief you love to just write off any other person verbally via the blog or other print (LJS) for persons in "your" city, and in fact like to do so without event meeting or geting to know them....so let me get this right, isn't forming an opinion about a person you never met...simply from rumors or unseen actions, isnt that agreeable to say a form of (prejudice)
** maybe just a little?**
aren't you the one in fact quilty of bashing (forming personal opinions) about people before the facts are told. or is that your desk sitting, paper pushing qualification and job title... realistically. when was the last time you had a open to the public forum, media involved meeting so that the common person (just people who pay taxes, and allow for your rediculous blogging salary) students, football fans, etc... can ask you qesitons first hand for your honest, upfront, unable to hide in this blog answers???
let me ask you this. We all know of your hatered for students aka "babysitting" but yet if UNL wasnt here, you would be chief of police is say......west point nebraska...
so since you regularly speak opinions about them via media and blog. would you be willing to a questionaire on campus form the people who in fact keep this city thriving in business??? probably not huh.....
just wondering, curious conversation, and always a pleasure to pick you mind....
your friend
Anon 1:53
ReplyDeleteYou're a person who obviously harbors a great deal of disdain for Chief Casady. I think what the Chief means is that personal matters, which this quite obviously is, should be kept personal.
This comes from someone who has not always held Casady in high regard. Admittedly, I've joined others in referring to him has 'Chief Hopalong'. However, as I have continued to read his blog on a regular basis, I've gained a greater appreciation for what he and LPD do for our city. Do I think there's room for improvement? Absolutely...but when I feel the need to share my thoughts with the Chief, I will do so in a respectful manner by contacting him directly.
And if you're mad because the Chief won't listen to your complaints about government-owned cars parking in 'temporary parking' reserved for government-owned cars for too long, or because he pokes fun at the idiot drunks on 'O' Street, or because he makes note of a suspect who is a repeat offender and who was caught red-handed...all I can say is this...too bad. It sounds to me like your complaints are menial and not worth the time that would be spent addressing them. It's obvious, at least to me, that you're really not interested in answers, but in satisfying your own ego.
Chief,
ReplyDeleteI think that 1:53 a.m. needs to stay in school and learn about grammer and spelling. I worry about our future leaders who can't spell the simplest of words.
His/her anger should be spent more on studying
I'm not sure what points 1:53 was trying to convey, but it doesn't surprise me that the comment was submitted not long after the bars closed. The sentence structure and flow of ideas reminds me of a previous comment (scroll down to "couple of curiousity questions") regarding how LPD was persecuting dancers or something like that. If the same skilled wordsmith didn't write both comments, then my name isn't Nathan Arizona.
ReplyDeleteHey, 1:53 AM, what was last night's special at the Brass Rail, anyway?
ReplyDeleteGee 1:53, ever heard of spell check? I remember my first beer.
ReplyDeleteGood Raising Arizona reference 9:51!
This is where we need to take a long look at the justice system. We are only hurting this boy and not helping him by keeping him out of jail!
ReplyDelete