(The ‘my’ in this story is concerning a unique armed robbery I responded to one night with no backup close. I don’t want you thinking I got away with a robbery.)

In the summer of 1988, the “2^nd grant” took effect, and the new Douglas County D.U.I. Task Force hit the streets. It was a big deal. Made the Douglas County Sentinel newspaper, it did. Lt. Cain, Chip, and I were sent to the radio shop to pick up our new units. For us, it was a time to go and goof-off with the R.C.A. boys. Other stories about all that stuff later.

It was a couple of weeks before Christmas when I rolled to a stop at Lee and South Sweetwater Roads, just as I had done at least four other times that night. I groaned with boredom. I still had 5 hours to go. Nothing was happening on I-20 and the county roads were basically tumbleweed. I just sat there silently. I didn’t want to have to choose another direction again. I was sure that whichever direction I chose would be just more boredom. It was one of those cold, bitter, “Yankee” nights. Coat wearing weather.
Suddenly a loud, sharp “beep” blared from “Radio.” The kind of beeps that today would make you google “fallout shelter.” Wake you up from a dead sleep. Maybe a plane went down somewhere near? That would obviously be terrible, as would any tragedy. But I admit I was grateful for something of interest, and I perked right up. Give me what you got, radio! Daddy wants his candy! I hadn’t used any of my adrenaline for a couple of shifts. I would have been slapping my arm to find a vein.

“Radio to all units” “10-3, 10-33!” Then a long, pregnant pause by the operator.
Radio continued, “A 10-17 has just occurred at the corner store at S. Sweetwater and Skyview.”  (Armed Robbery)

I thought, ahem, the little corner store at South Sweetwater and Skyview. OH HELL, YEAH BABY! An armed robbery, from where I’m sitting right now. My seizure went into full fury. I had to stave my pen between my teeth for the coming rush.

The radio operator continued, “Last seen north on South Sweetwater towards HWY 78.” Then another dramatic pause, until… “Be on the lookout for a blue, Ford, LTD, 4-door last seen north on South Sweetwater.” Here we go! Hell, the robber is only half a mile or so in front of me. I swung a left onto S. Sweetwater, also north bound. Radio continued, “be on the lookout for a tall, white male, black coat, armed with a handgun.”

Now it’s time to shine! When “Radio” finished their lookout, it was now my turn to preen. Calmly, almost in a whisper… “141 Radio, turning north onto South Sweetwater from Lee”. It was like yelling BINGO! The other guys knew that I was right on top of his ass.

I finally had Radio by the throat. The channel was now all mine. Patrol units, task forces, and troopers were giving their locations on the car-to-car channel. Their radio traffic also gave me an indication of where my possible backups were coming from. No other units were close at that time. I was driving my new 1988 Chevrolet Caprice with the Interceptor police package. Like on the “COLORS” movie. I figured with a new cruiser and all, it was time to break her in. So, I went to breaking.

I squirreled a left onto South Sweetwater headed north. S. Sweetwater was a decently wide paved 2-lane county road. That night it was cold and dark. I saw a porch light on now and again, but that was it. No street lights.

My interceptor screamed past the little store with strobes and siren operating at maximum capacity. My blue strobe lights flashed off the trees and houses. It looked cool against the Christmas lights blinking. I knew I had a good chance to catch the robber if I was quick enough. Robbers would usually slow down to normal traffic speeds once they had gotten a mile or two from the incident location. They would try to blend in with traffic. They didn’t want to be caught speeding a couple miles away from the store they had just robbed. Nothing to blend into on this night, though. If he followed the official robber do’s and don’ts handbook, my reckless speeding would be to my advantage.

One of Sheriff Lee’s rules was for us to start easing eastwards when a 10-3 type event occurred. Interstate 20, Highway 166, and Highway 78 were our only continuous east/west routes through the entirety of Douglas County. Meanwhile, I’m driving Indy 500 style on a dark, county road. I was actually trying to see how fast I could drive and still stay in my lane. Not just on the road, but in my lane. Hauling ass. I thought that I should be seeing taillights very soon.
I slid to a stop at the intersection of Bankhead and Sweetwater.  Downtown Lithia Springs. It was me and the traffic light that was buzzing and clicking. I looked in all directions, I couldn’t see any signs of life anywhere.
I looked forward onto North Sweetwater Road and all I saw was the railroad embankment, nothing more. Looking west on Bankhead Highway towards Douglasville, I could see at least a mile of nothing. No taillights. I would like to reiterate that I didn’t see any headlights or taillights but for the robber’s Ford from the start till the arrest.

Well, the Sheriff did say to go east, young man. So I squirreled a right onto 78, burning rubber. I could see about 300 yards ahead to Annette Winn Elementary. It was in total darkness as well. Well, let’s put the Sheriff’s teachings to the test. I told radio, “turning east on 78 towards Austell.” I took off again but without blue lights or siren. I remembered the reflections on the trees and houses. Didn’t want to spook him. As I rounded the curve at Annette Winn, I finally saw a car on the road. The taillights sure looked like a Ford LTD’s rear end from my distance. The LTD appeared to be leisurely driving along. I sped up without activating my emergency equipment. I sped up to about 10 feet off the rear bumper and hit the full package. Actually, it was a beautiful experience. As I got closer, I saw that the car was indeed a blue Ford LTD. I lit up the night like an “Opening Show on Broadway.” My blue lights illuminated the dark night, as expected. My siren was extremely loud on that crisp winter night.
“141 radio.” “141 go ahead.” “10-38 with a blue Ford LTD Bankhead Highway at Arthur Drive.” (10-38 = stopping another vehicle/car). Other units began chattering on the car-to-car. We had maybe around nine units in the county that night, including me.

The LTD did not speed up but kept its steady speed, around 40 MPH. Not unheard of. The Ford’s windows were fogged with winter condensation. I couldn’t see inside the car. The LTD continued on, slowly, until the driver turned onto Peachtree Street. Peachtree Street ran downward to a dead-end. I remembered Peachtree Street from my patrol days. Peachtree Street used to connect Lithia with Austell. The Feds/State wanted Highway 6 to go north. Two desolate streets were created. A poorly maintained, dark, muddy dead-end of a street. A few wooden homes, mud, and overhanging growth.

I knew there was nothing at the turnaround. No streetlight would be there for us. Hell, I had goofed off under that foliage for years by that point.  I thought to myself, “this guy is taking me down here to kill my ass.” Well, you better be fast, shitass. “141 radio… vehicle stopping at the end.”

I stopped behind the LTD with an advantageous angle… Blah Blah Blah. I kicked my door open as I heard Radio faintly calling, “Status 141?” “141 Status?” This is going down now, and it will be on me. “105 to 141.” Lieutenant Cain was my immediate boss. I had to answer. I whisper replied on my shoulder mic walkie talkie “105?” “Standby for back up” were his instructions. I was already out behind my door on one knee with pistol drawn. I did not answer. The back window of the LTD was encrusted over with a white frosty condensation. This is “my” dead-end, shitass! Backup was not there, period. I still couldn’t hear any sirens. I will do as taught. I took command of the situation instead of letting the armed robber make the first move. My pistol was trained on the driver’s door. My spotlight lit up the rear of the 4-door. Over my loudspeaker, I gave commands.

“Driver!” Roll down your driver’s window! The way I had positioned my cruiser, I could see the Driver’s side easily. The window lowered. “Driver!” “Turn off your car and throw the keys into the street!” A set of keys hit the potholed pavement. “Driver!” “Throw your gun into the street.” What looked like a .45 automatic hit the street. “With your right hand, open your car door from the outside!” “141, your status.” I didn’t have time to answer. I let that one go, also. The driver’s hand came out of the window and opened the door from the outside. “Driver!” with your left foot kick your door open.” Still no sirens could be heard.

“Driver!” “Step slowly out of the car with hands raised and face away from my voice.
The rear windows started to clear a little with his cars door open. I could now hear a faint siren coming from the Thornton Road/Austell Police area. The driver stepped slowly from his car following my every instruction. “Driver!” “Keep turning until I say stop!” Nothing. “Driver!” “Get on your knees and put your hands on your head.” He did as told.

We didn’t know about ankle crossing back then. It was the newest fad from California. Hadn’t made it to us yet. Training! I could now see what appeared to be another man sitting in the front passenger seat. I could hear my backup’s sirens very good by that point.

“Passinger!” “Step from the vehicle and place your hands on the roof!” The accomplice stepped out of the Ford with his arms raised, two little heads popped up in the 4-door’s back seat. It appeared to be a boy and girl. They appeared to be around 5 and 7. Both had their eyes and mouths wide open. They both then rapidly popped back down in their seat. Well, isn’t that just great?  Romper Room. “Passenger!” “Turn completely around and walk backwards to the trunk.” The driver was still cool. “Put your hands on the trunk!”  I got the passenger away from the children in case something went down. After a couple of “10-4 Radios” I got the children out of the potential line of fire.                                                                                                             The children stood back up in the back seat and they were now crying. Cavalry finally arrived. Someone bailed beside me to get a better view. Softly over my mic, I told the other officer of the situation and the children. “Passenger!” “Walk slowly to the rear of the car and get on your knees!” No sooner than I had said that, two more units arrived. We all cleaned up the mess. I threw the driver into the back of my car.
“141 Radio.” “10-95 enroute to the Sheriff’s Office.”

(10-95 arrest made)

Epilogue:

The driver admitted that he needed the money to pay his rent or his sister wouldn’t have money for the children’s Christmas. The driver was found to be baby-sitting the children that night. The sister was stripping over on Fulton Industrial Boulevard. The mother came from work and got her kids.
The pistol turned out to be a plastic toy. Embarrassing.

Embellished: Incident report.

The LTD passenger and children were brought to the County Jail by detectives

Thanks to the detectives for taking over the investigation and the mountain of paperwork to come. I was kind of disappointed about my arrest though. Here I thought I was a “Big Man!” The 1911M turned out to be a plastic toy. The passenger was found to have had no knowledge of the driver robbing the little store. The passenger told detectives that the driver went in by himself and got back in and never said a word. The store’s video verified the claim.

Robber:

The thief said he wanted to buy Christmas for his sister’s children. He claimed to be living in a trailer with his sister. They were in the trailer park down on Sweetwater Creek off Robin. The trailer park still floods regularly there. Built on an existing flood zone area. That was Austell P.D.’s baby. I already had my own bane, “Springtime.” The robber said he didn’t have money for Christmas. He just wanted to pay his sister back by buying her children toys for Christmas, and a plastic gun robbery seemed to be the only way he saw to make it happen.

Well, we all came together and besieged the Superior Court Judges to drop all charges and we even bought… Nothing!
I threw his ass into the cell’s shower room and yelled “Fresh Meat!” No Christmas for you this year, kids! Uncle Rupert is detained!

Sister:

The sister was a stripp… dancer in a seedy little strip club named “Riley’s.” Riley’s was always filthy and dimly lit, it had foul odors and the carpets were stained full of who knows what? Only filthy scum would congregate at Riley’s. Riley’s did have a cool DJ though. “Spitfire.” Old man Riley also had an awesome blue waterhead flute band. I even drank with old man Riley himself. I wouldn’t go into the bathroom inside there, though. Riley’s outside wall had good enough drainage.

The Passenger:

The passenger was just a homeless man headed to Atlanta. He just wanted to get to a shelter so he could get out of that cold, Yankee weather. I shoved the bum out of the back door. Merry  Christmas! And Dasvidaniya!