July 31, 2023 • 25 mins
Dragnet, one of the most iconic old-time radio series, captivated audiences during its heyday. Originally airing from 1949 to 1957, with a revival in the 1960s, Dragnet brought a realistic and gritty portrayal of law enforcement to the airwaves. Created and produced by Jack Webb, who also starred as Sergeant Joe Friday, the show followed the investigations of the Los Angeles Police Department. Known for its distinctive rapid-fire dialogue and the infamous line "Just the facts, ma'am," Dragnet presented a no-nonsense approach to solving crimes. With its emphasis on authenticity, the series drew inspiration from actual police cases and featured real stories from the LAPD. This immersive experience, combined with Webb's impeccable delivery, made Dragnet a beloved and enduring radio program, allowing listeners to vicariously experience the challenges and triumphs of law enforcement. Check out all of the great radio programming available to one and all at www.xzbn.net
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Ha Dragnet. Ladies and gentlemen,The story you're about to hear is true.
The names have been changed to protectthe innocent. You're a detective sergeant.
(00:24):
You're assigned a robbery detail. Agunman has robbed a bank in your
city. From his method of operation, you know he's dangerous. Your job
to get him. Dragnet the documenteddrama of an actual crime. While the
next thirty minutes, in cooperation withthe Los Angeles Police Department, you will
(00:48):
travel step by step on the sideof the law through an actual case.
Transcribe from official police files from beginningto end, from crime to punishment.
Dragnet is the story of your policeforce in action. There was Wednesday,
May fourth. It was warm inLos Angeles. We were working the day
Watch out of Robbie detail. Mypartner's Frank Smith. The boss achieved he
(01:11):
kicked his dad Brown. My nameis Friday. There was twelve thirty six
pm when I got the call andit took me eight minutes to get back
to the city Hall Robbie squadroom.Joe, Yeah, back here, what's
up? No banks? You havingslugging. We've got a rule on where
Carne Melrose and fountain. Anybody elseon it? Yeah, JJ and Murk
went out right, let's go allright, Friday Smith, Yeah, look
you took in to cover the bank. Hold. Yeah, we'll just leave
(01:33):
it a whole call. And he'sout with JJ and Murph. They got
to covered out there. Skipper wantsyou to take Georgia Street and talk to
the guard if you can get anyinformation out of him. All right,
what's the name? I haven't gotit. There's a uniform man with him.
Whole guys in pretty bad shape.Yeah. On the thief left the
bank. The guard tried to stophim. Old the man pulled a gun.
Miss squired pistol with the old guy. He's a critical condition. We
(01:53):
just got word that you can talkto him. You get right over there.
Gotta make it fast and good luck. Yeah, we gotta come up
with an identification. We gotta getit in a hurry. The guys still
running a matter of time before somebodygets in his way. We can't count
on it. Next time A gunand jammy. Twelve forty seven pm,
Frank and I left the City Halland drove over to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital.
(02:15):
It took us five and a halfminutes traveling Code three, who went
up to the third floor and metthe officer who had been with the guard
You follow from central Yeah, Fridayand stub want to say the victims he
missed him? What do you meanhe died five minutes ago. We checked
with a doctor in attendance and foundthat the victim had said nothing to aid
(02:35):
in identifying the suspect. We returnedto the office. A local broadcast on
an APB had been gotten out ona man carrying his description. A crew
from the crime will have it goneover the premises of the bank without getting
any new information. The clerks andtellers had been brought to the city Hall
to check the mug books. Everythingpossible was being done to apprehend the bank
guards killer, but without being ableto identify him, the job was almost
impossible. At two forty eight pm, we got a call from Captain Donohoe.
(03:00):
That's right, skipper. Now they'rein the mudroom now, no not
yeah, wait a minute, Joey, you want to toss me that padge?
Yeah, here you got a skipper? Yeah, mhm, I see,
I got it. I will checkright away, Yeah, as soon
as we find out, Yes,sir, all right, goodbye. What
(03:23):
do you got'n checked around the neighborhood, found a news voice. How this
suspect leave the bank? You know, kid got the license number. An
im media check was made with theDepartment of Motor Vehicles and with our vehicle
records. It took us two minutesto get the information. Yeah, we
figure to turn out that way.Hey, I want to give any address?
(03:44):
All right, Okay, we'll runit out about car was stolen a
week ago. A team of menwent out to talk to the owner of
the automobile. Additional broadcast were gottenout on the stolen car, carrying the
licensed number. They can model description. In the event the car was found
abandoned, it was to be stakedout and we were to be notified.
(04:05):
Roadblocks were set up in the areaadjacent to the bank and all vehicles were
checked. Captain Donohoe came in fromthe scene and a meeting was held between
him and Chief the Detective stad Brown. At the time, twenty five officers
from Robbery Division. We're trying tofind a lead to identify the thief.
We knew what he looked like,what kind of car he was driving,
we know what kind of gun hehad. And how much money he'd stolen,
but we didn't know who he wasor where to find him. The
(04:27):
night dragged on. At one twentysix am, we got our first break
in the case. Excuse me,I'm one of the bank towers. Yes,
the officers was with us, wentout to bring in some coffee.
He said, if we found anythings, come in here. Yes,
that's right. Well we have allof us agree. We're real sure what
is the hold up? Man?We found his picture. The suspect was
(04:54):
identified as Thomas bud Kerrey, WMA, twenty six years. According to his
package, he'd been arrested the firsttime when he was sixteen. He'd served
a total of five and a halfyears in state institutions. We checked with
Fred Galloway of the Adult Authority andfound that there was an outstanding warrant un
carry for parole violation. Additional broadcastswere gotten out carrying his name and description.
Officers in the field were notified ofthe latest developments, while other teams
(05:16):
of men covered Carrie's known hangouts andfriends. Frank and I left the office
and drove out to see his mother. She lived in a Rundown apartment house
on the East Side of town.The building was dark when we got there.
Hear coming five the whole light inhere. I saw that. Yeah,
(05:44):
and you're easy to carry ranking here. Open up all right, wow,
police officers who want to talk toyou. Nothing for the cops.
Get out of here in my mom'sCarrie, open up. I ain't miss
(06:05):
Carrie no more. Now go awayand do it two ways. You can
talk to us here when you godowntown. It's it about your son by
prince he gone. We want tocheck or watch. Ain't nothing here on
a lovesy room. That's it.You can sleep. It's the kitchen there
(06:29):
to take a look at the stove. Might be something there. It's not
true either. Now what do youwant? We've seen your son in trouble
again. We like to talk tohim. That's he done now? Nor
he is now you know where wecan find him, and seeing him for
a couple of months might as wellbe dead. Well he isn't any difference
to me one way or that youknow where he lives. They ain't here.
That's no kind of an answer question. No that either, love Kyle
(06:54):
Kelly, I'm his mother. Longtime ago, did him trouble ever since?
Yeah, I'll sleep with the radioon later. You got any idea
we can find your son? No? You got any close friends? Maybe?
Yes? I don't know about girls? What about is your son got
(07:15):
one? Last time I saw himhe had a couple, both of them
married, Same as always. Hecouldn't do anything the easy way. It
wasn't a problem. He'd make one. Is there any place to go off?
He was in trouble. I'm kindman, I'm kind of trouble.
If he doesn't this time, I'llbe better if we're talking to him about
it. Yeah, always that way, talk to him, do any good?
(07:40):
I tried for a lot of years. I didn't do no good.
You know why? What's it?You know? Why don't do no good?
Boyeam because he don't listen. Youdidn't stand right in front of him
and scream the top of your headright off and he don't hear you.
Is that right? He was alittle The first time I caught him stealing,
(08:00):
I talked all day and all nightfor a week. I talked.
He stood there and looked at me. It was over. You know what
he did? You know he didit again. Every time he turned around,
he stole something. I tried itall bat and he's yelling all of
it. I tried it on.His father walked out and by the sixth
(08:24):
m just by myself, with everythingI could to bring him up right,
led the books, saw the ministry, even had the relief people talk to
medn't listen little that time when hewas sixteen, when Chris picked him up,
I thought that might do it,you know, being in jail,
judge in the court. I prayed, working me to change. Didn't.
(08:50):
A couple of days later he wasright back. Can you tell his probation
officers about it? Budd was fiveten, he was sixteen, weighed one
hundred and seventy pounds. If I'dopened my mouth, pretty hard thing to
say. I'm tired to live withall the time, all it tears.
I'm tired of crying. I'm tiredof working. I'm tired of being alive.
(09:13):
I used to pray for him,ask God to make him come out
of a big good man. Prayedand I prayed. I figured I was
praying for the wrong thing, soI changed. I know him, I
know how he thinks, what he'lldo. He's mean, and the soles
(09:35):
of his feet he's mean. Istill pray, maybe you're the one to
do it. Kill him. Frankand I range for a steak out on
the building. Then we drove backthe City Hall Captain donah and Chief Brown.
(09:58):
We're directing the search from the Robberyoffice. The morning papers had carried
the story and we were receiving callsfrom citizens who had seen Kerry. From
the report, it was believed he'dgotten out of the blockade area and he
was heading for the San Fernando Valley. Roadblocks were thrown up on streets leading
off the freeway, and additional menwere called in from the Valley Division to
aid us in the search. Sevenforty two am it had been nineteen hours
since Carry had held up the bank. In that time, the entire facilities
(10:20):
of the police department had been devotedto his capture. Lieutenant Dave Terry from
the Sheriff's Office had joined Captain Donahoenwas coordinating their activities with ours. Seven
forty five am. Frank got backwith some hot coffee. Anything knew,
No, I got to report Kerrywas seen at the Violin cut off check
O. No know you and Igot some coffee for you, George.
Thanks, And then he happened.Yeah, we got him condemned where valley?
(10:48):
A lot of ground, aren't Wejust gotta call Kerry pulled into a
gas station in Riverside, attended,recognizing, tried to stall Kerry, got
wise, started to leave. Yeah, pulled a gun, shot them out
up pretty bad. Chill him,No, got him in valley emergency.
But about Kerry still loose? CoronerJaska Friday Smith. We got him where,
broke into a house on Woodman.A couple of motorcycle officers, got
(11:09):
him pinned down, And let's go, Joe. Yeah, take the business
office to check out everything in theracks, all right, go with him,
Frank. We'll need gas, shelvesand masks, barricade and penetration.
Better take a box of double lotsfor the shotguns and plenty forty rives.
You'll be there. Leave him now, I'll go to Johan Flanks. Okay,
let's go. Let's getting roughing.Yeah, what about the house he's
(11:30):
picked? What do you mean,who's in a kind of place of it?
It doesn't make a lot of difference. We still got the same job.
We got to get him out.We left the city hall and drove
out to the valley. Code threeby the time we've gotten there. Several
other officers from Central Robbery in theValley Division were on the scene. We
talked with Sergeant Pat Murphy of ouroffice. What do you know about the
(11:52):
place? Six rooms here? Letme lay off for you, kat Petzel,
I got a pen here. Ohthanks? All right? Now the
house is built in the shape ofthe EU and living room runs along the
front of the dining room here onthe corner here. Yeah, the kitchen
is here and here's a backdoor anycover there. Officers are found him watching
(12:15):
him. Yeah, there's a closethere off the service port. On the
other side, there's bedroom here doorthe bath and another bedroom. Just the
two doors, yeah, the frontand the one off the kitchen. Would
you get this layout? I talkedto the woman next door. She's a
friend of the family, owns theplace. Been in satellite with the family.
Yeah, we're not sure, andnever says she thinks they're all out.
(12:37):
And the man goes to work atsix when he usally drives a kid
to school about seven thirty, Iwho put off the car, motor rocks
as they saw the car parked thecurb, went to check it out.
Carey was inside. He made thehouse. We try to get him on
you. No, they weren't surehe was alone. How'd you do?
Well? We got here right afterthey. At the time we got to
Kurby started to shoot. Any chanceof getting to him from the back of
the house, it'd be rough.The shades are all pulled down. Tell
(13:00):
where he is? Will you goin? He can be sitting under the
window waiting for us. How aboutthe phold? We tried and he won't
answer it. About all of himas much as we've got, Well,
what do you want to do?Give him a chance to walk out.
It would be his choice. Talkto him. Yeah, give him a
chance to open the door. Well, it's gonna be hard. We haven't
been able to get near the place, and big things to make sure.
He's a longer. As far aswe've been able to tell, he is,
there's no movement inside, no noisetrying to round up the family.
(13:24):
Now, can't wait for that.Let's get on him. I'll try to
talk to him. You can't makeit, Joe. He's in a box
and he knows it. Maybe you'regonna bring him out and you want to
do it, Go ahead, hemakes the move, get out fast.
I won't mean that. We'll getme coverage. The last time you heard
from me is in the living room. Is that right? Yeah, there's
three windows on the left there.Okay, easy, Joe, carry,
(13:50):
Carrie, carry, Come on carry. You can't sit in there forever?
Well, a smart walk outside andit'll be all right. Don't cause any
more trouble now, how about it, Kerry, you're making a rougher on
(14:11):
yourself. Come on out, Carrie. You can't win. You know that.
I don't have to tell you itdidn't work clock around out before you
(14:33):
started. Carrie, isn't gonna walk? Well, they called it, you
know, get the gas guns.The people living across the street and on
each side of the house were askedto leave their homes in the event there
would be any more shooting. Theriot guns were brought from the car and
they were loaded with penetration gas shells. Because of the physical way out of
(14:54):
the house, it was decided toshoot into the rear of the building and
try to drive the suspect toward thefront of the place. Officer Murphy,
along with Lieutenant Stoner, went backto the alley that ran along the rear
of the property. The two uniformmen covered the sides of the house,
and Frank and I took up ourstations in front of the building nine fourteen,
A house of time that m Iought to be in position. Y'all
(15:15):
set on that gun. Yeah,I think you'll give up there, don't
no flip a coin. The landingin the pretty quick. There it goes
away. The house is divided.He could close the doors to the back
room and keep us going for awhile. Let's to have an idea where
he is in the house. Yeah, I should corn it in. That's
(15:41):
lousy stuff, Terry gas lousy stillremember it from the academy. Frank trunk
windows if no shade was pulled out, I think I saw something. Get
the stoner telling to hold a gun. Yeah, there's a woman in there
with him. Because of the possibilitythat there might be another person in the
(16:02):
house, all shooting into the buildingwas stopped. An immediate effort was made
to identify the other person. Theowner of the place, Virgil Bush,
was contacted. He told us thathe and his wife had left the house
at about the same time. She'dtaken their son to a neighborhood school,
and then he thought that she'd returnedto the house. The check was made
at the school and the youngster wasfound to be present. From all indications,
Missus Bush was in the house withKerry him was being held a hostage.
(16:25):
Ten fifty six am we met withCaptain Donahan Lieutenant Stoner. Any chance
you were wrong, Joe, No, I don't think so. Right after
the guns went off, I thoughtI saw the woman at the front window,
look like she's trying to get out. What do you want to do?
And ask her much left? Woman'sgotta get out of there before we're
gonna have to carry that's where todo that school and after? Yeah,
what about using triple chasers might work? If we're going the back way,
we can drive carry towards the livingroom. Yeah, but what if he
(16:45):
takes a woman with it? Keephim busy enough in the wounds figures she's
given him plenty of trouble by thistime, going to be a rough form
the drive her along, then itmight work. Who's going into thank now
you can do it. You cangive us a cover where you're gonna make
it. What's your room? Didyour hit Stoner? Back bedroom in the
kitchen that covers both sides of thehouse. Then, yeah, the gas
holding. As far as we cantell, it's still there. It might
be better than to go into thebedroom. Drive carry into the living room.
(17:06):
Hope we can pick up the womanon the way. All right,
you got the masks. I wantto give me a hand, Frank,
Yeah, we'll give you all thecover we can. Joe, good,
We can't shoot it into the hospital. We'll make Carry think we are all
right. Once you got the woman, bring her out. If Carry goes
into the living room, don't tryto go after him. Let him sit
for a while. We'll take careof the rest of it later. Okay,
here, you guys, Joe,here, they're triple chasers. Since
(17:26):
I want to do hu, i'llpick the sod off. You should be
able to handle him with that.I don't have to tell you. They
want of you to take it easy. So we want that woman, but
we want her alive. Anything comesup that gets in the way, pull
out, don't wait to ask questions. Right, all right, get on
it, let's go free, right, Joe. Yeah, Carry's rough.
He's planning for keeps. You know, he'll kill you if he gets a
chance, or it makes it easy. We won't give him one Frank and
(17:49):
I went around at the back ofthe house and put on the gas masks.
He loaded the shotgun and flipped offthe safety. I checked the triple
chasers. They're about the size ofa beer can, and they built like
a hand and grenade. Two secondsafter the pin is pulled and the lever
is released, the shell explodes intothree parts. Each of them throws out
a large quantity of tear gas.By using them, an officer can completely
fill an area with gas almost immediately. A few minutes after we were in
(18:12):
position, the covering gun fire started. Well said, if you're gonna talk
one in the bedroom, better makesure it's clear. Okay, I watched
it. Go ahead, I'll probablyhurt part one. All right, that's
(18:38):
clean. Well, let's get thenext room. It's the bathroom and should
be. To get the door,I'll talk the shell a right. Fit
a minute. Wait a minute,you got the pinnute? Oh good,
get a second. All up,and that's empty. Yeah that room there,
(19:04):
Uh huh, hold it, okay, hell, let's go. Let's
carry. He's getting the living room. We better get him. Wait a
minute on the better the woman,well, we better get her out of
(19:25):
here, all right, naked,I think, so get that window with
it. Yeah, and I gotto say it. I'll go first.
I'll take her on the outside.All right, hold it right there,
carry's Murph Friday and spets. Giveus a hand. We got the woman,
Henna, let me help. Okay, Joe, you got her?
(19:45):
Yeah? All right, come on, let's get her out here. What
do I get this mask off onyou? Okay, Joe? Wait on
it. Yeah, how's a womanshe used to be? All right,
give me hand getting this tape off? Yeah? Thank god? None.
He was gonna kill me every minute. I thought he was gonna kill me.
(20:06):
All right, now, my boys, to take it easy. It's
crazy. That man's crazy. Ifyou haven't got it, he kill me.
Job and no, boy, let'sget out of here. Come on,
you got her home? Ask efyou all right, ma'am. It
isn't his fault. So I've neverseen anybody like that before. All right,
missus? Book you want to takeher to scarm sure? Just a
minute, man, what can youtell us? How many guns carry his
(20:27):
gun? How many guns did yousee? Who? Difference does it make?
It makes a lot of different stuffs. I don't know. He's got
a pistol. You know we sawthat anything else. Yeah, he's got
a rifle to a shotgun. Ithink did you see it? He brought
it into the house. Where isit? What do you mean? What
part of the house is it end? You know, the front room.
I guess that's where it was thelast time I thought you got any shoulds
for a lot of me at hispockets full? All right, that's all,
(20:48):
thank you. You're gonna get himnow, we're gonna try. You
have to shoot him, ma'am.He told me so himself that you wouldn't
take him alive. Told me totry to take a couple of you with
him. No, it isn't gonnachange. He's still going. Miss Bush
was taking to one of the neighborhoodhouses and we got ready to take the
(21:11):
suspect into custody. The house wascompletely surrounded. All of the doors and
windows were covered. Each man wasinstructed to shoot the killing the event carry
tried to escape or made any effortto fire into the crowd. Then a
last attempt to get him out ofthe house without additional bloodshed, the bullhorn
was brought from the corn. Wetried to talk to him. Yere Joe
all right, telling us at thelast time around drew or through a playing
(21:32):
games, right, Kerry, carry, give it out, Throw those guns
out and you follow them. Allright. We'll tell you where you stand.
There are a lot of us outhere. We've all got orders to
(21:52):
kill you. If you try anythingyou're think getting sit in there and we
can't cut you. You got itwrong. We'll blow the roofloff if we
have to. Tony's got ten secondsthrown called them all for him, stand
by with gas guns. Yes,go ahead, John, Kerry, you're
running out of time. We'll giveyou ten seconds to come out of there
(22:17):
the last time. Throw the gunsout and come out after him. Ten
seconds. Carry, that's all yougot. Nine eight, seven, six,
five four three two. That's allyou got. Time's up, all
(22:41):
right? Throw him in prow aboutthat rock port. Here's a machine guns
job. I got it. Let'shave good lumps, talk some more in.
You gotta come up pretty quick.Yeah, there he is, got
(23:06):
that shotgun you don't Yeah, easyenough, Terry, Terry not moving?
Yeah, how about it? Allright? Must have been dead winning at
(23:32):
the floor. Yeah, we're lucky. I don't know what we had to
kill him. The story you havejust heard is true. The names were
changed to protect the innocence. OnMonday, May ninth, an inquest was
(23:52):
held in the Cordiner's office in andfor the country of Los Angeles State of
California. The coroner's jury found thatthe death of Thomas Herbert Kerry was caused
by gunshot wounds resulting from an attemptto resist arrest. The officers were absolved
(24:14):
from blame. Dragnett. The Storyof Your Police Force in Action is a
presentation of the United States Armed ForcesRadio Service SUS SUS SUS SUST
Ha Dragnet. Ladies and gentlemen,The story you're about to hear is true.
The names have been changed to protectthe innocent. You're a detective sergeant.
(00:24):
You're assigned a robbery detail. Agunman has robbed a bank in your
city. From his method of operation, you know he's dangerous. Your job
to get him. Dragnet the documenteddrama of an actual crime. While the
next thirty minutes, in cooperation withthe Los Angeles Police Department, you will
(00:48):
travel step by step on the sideof the law through an actual case.
Transcribe from official police files from beginningto end, from crime to punishment.
Dragnet is the story of your policeforce in action. There was Wednesday,
May fourth. It was warm inLos Angeles. We were working the day
Watch out of Robbie detail. Mypartner's Frank Smith. The boss achieved he
(01:11):
kicked his dad Brown. My nameis Friday. There was twelve thirty six
pm when I got the call andit took me eight minutes to get back
to the city Hall Robbie squadroom.Joe, Yeah, back here, what's
up? No banks? You havingslugging. We've got a rule on where
Carne Melrose and fountain. Anybody elseon it? Yeah, JJ and Murk
went out right, let's go allright, Friday Smith, Yeah, look
you took in to cover the bank. Hold. Yeah, we'll just leave
(01:33):
it a whole call. And he'sout with JJ and Murph. They got
to covered out there. Skipper wantsyou to take Georgia Street and talk to
the guard if you can get anyinformation out of him. All right,
what's the name? I haven't gotit. There's a uniform man with him.
Whole guys in pretty bad shape.Yeah. On the thief left the
bank. The guard tried to stophim. Old the man pulled a gun.
Miss squired pistol with the old guy. He's a critical condition. We
(01:53):
just got word that you can talkto him. You get right over there.
Gotta make it fast and good luck. Yeah, we gotta come up
with an identification. We gotta getit in a hurry. The guys still
running a matter of time before somebodygets in his way. We can't count
on it. Next time A gunand jammy. Twelve forty seven pm,
Frank and I left the City Halland drove over to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital.
(02:15):
It took us five and a halfminutes traveling Code three, who went
up to the third floor and metthe officer who had been with the guard
You follow from central Yeah, Fridayand stub want to say the victims he
missed him? What do you meanhe died five minutes ago. We checked
with a doctor in attendance and foundthat the victim had said nothing to aid
(02:35):
in identifying the suspect. We returnedto the office. A local broadcast on
an APB had been gotten out ona man carrying his description. A crew
from the crime will have it goneover the premises of the bank without getting
any new information. The clerks andtellers had been brought to the city Hall
to check the mug books. Everythingpossible was being done to apprehend the bank
guards killer, but without being ableto identify him, the job was almost
impossible. At two forty eight pm, we got a call from Captain Donohoe.
(03:00):
That's right, skipper. Now they'rein the mudroom now, no not
yeah, wait a minute, Joey, you want to toss me that padge?
Yeah, here you got a skipper? Yeah, mhm, I see,
I got it. I will checkright away, Yeah, as soon
as we find out, Yes,sir, all right, goodbye. What
(03:23):
do you got'n checked around the neighborhood, found a news voice. How this
suspect leave the bank? You know, kid got the license number. An
im media check was made with theDepartment of Motor Vehicles and with our vehicle
records. It took us two minutesto get the information. Yeah, we
figure to turn out that way.Hey, I want to give any address?
(03:44):
All right, Okay, we'll runit out about car was stolen a
week ago. A team of menwent out to talk to the owner of
the automobile. Additional broadcast were gottenout on the stolen car, carrying the
licensed number. They can model description. In the event the car was found
abandoned, it was to be stakedout and we were to be notified.
(04:05):
Roadblocks were set up in the areaadjacent to the bank and all vehicles were
checked. Captain Donohoe came in fromthe scene and a meeting was held between
him and Chief the Detective stad Brown. At the time, twenty five officers
from Robbery Division. We're trying tofind a lead to identify the thief.
We knew what he looked like,what kind of car he was driving,
we know what kind of gun hehad. And how much money he'd stolen,
but we didn't know who he wasor where to find him. The
(04:27):
night dragged on. At one twentysix am, we got our first break
in the case. Excuse me,I'm one of the bank towers. Yes,
the officers was with us, wentout to bring in some coffee.
He said, if we found anythings, come in here. Yes,
that's right. Well we have allof us agree. We're real sure what
is the hold up? Man?We found his picture. The suspect was
(04:54):
identified as Thomas bud Kerrey, WMA, twenty six years. According to his
package, he'd been arrested the firsttime when he was sixteen. He'd served
a total of five and a halfyears in state institutions. We checked with
Fred Galloway of the Adult Authority andfound that there was an outstanding warrant un
carry for parole violation. Additional broadcastswere gotten out carrying his name and description.
Officers in the field were notified ofthe latest developments, while other teams
(05:16):
of men covered Carrie's known hangouts andfriends. Frank and I left the office
and drove out to see his mother. She lived in a Rundown apartment house
on the East Side of town.The building was dark when we got there.
Hear coming five the whole light inhere. I saw that. Yeah,
(05:44):
and you're easy to carry ranking here. Open up all right, wow,
police officers who want to talk toyou. Nothing for the cops.
Get out of here in my mom'sCarrie, open up. I ain't miss
(06:05):
Carrie no more. Now go awayand do it two ways. You can
talk to us here when you godowntown. It's it about your son by
prince he gone. We want tocheck or watch. Ain't nothing here on
a lovesy room. That's it.You can sleep. It's the kitchen there
(06:29):
to take a look at the stove. Might be something there. It's not
true either. Now what do youwant? We've seen your son in trouble
again. We like to talk tohim. That's he done now? Nor
he is now you know where wecan find him, and seeing him for
a couple of months might as wellbe dead. Well he isn't any difference
to me one way or that youknow where he lives. They ain't here.
That's no kind of an answer question. No that either, love Kyle
(06:54):
Kelly, I'm his mother. Longtime ago, did him trouble ever since?
Yeah, I'll sleep with the radioon later. You got any idea
we can find your son? No? You got any close friends? Maybe?
Yes? I don't know about girls? What about is your son got
(07:15):
one? Last time I saw himhe had a couple, both of them
married, Same as always. Hecouldn't do anything the easy way. It
wasn't a problem. He'd make one. Is there any place to go off?
He was in trouble. I'm kindman, I'm kind of trouble.
If he doesn't this time, I'llbe better if we're talking to him about
it. Yeah, always that way, talk to him, do any good?
(07:40):
I tried for a lot of years. I didn't do no good.
You know why? What's it?You know? Why don't do no good?
Boyeam because he don't listen. Youdidn't stand right in front of him
and scream the top of your headright off and he don't hear you.
Is that right? He was alittle The first time I caught him stealing,
(08:00):
I talked all day and all nightfor a week. I talked.
He stood there and looked at me. It was over. You know what
he did? You know he didit again. Every time he turned around,
he stole something. I tried itall bat and he's yelling all of
it. I tried it on.His father walked out and by the sixth
(08:24):
m just by myself, with everythingI could to bring him up right,
led the books, saw the ministry, even had the relief people talk to
medn't listen little that time when hewas sixteen, when Chris picked him up,
I thought that might do it,you know, being in jail,
judge in the court. I prayed, working me to change. Didn't.
(08:50):
A couple of days later he wasright back. Can you tell his probation
officers about it? Budd was fiveten, he was sixteen, weighed one
hundred and seventy pounds. If I'dopened my mouth, pretty hard thing to
say. I'm tired to live withall the time, all it tears.
I'm tired of crying. I'm tiredof working. I'm tired of being alive.
(09:13):
I used to pray for him,ask God to make him come out
of a big good man. Prayedand I prayed. I figured I was
praying for the wrong thing, soI changed. I know him, I
know how he thinks, what he'lldo. He's mean, and the soles
(09:35):
of his feet he's mean. Istill pray, maybe you're the one to
do it. Kill him. Frankand I range for a steak out on
the building. Then we drove backthe City Hall Captain donah and Chief Brown.
(09:58):
We're directing the search from the Robberyoffice. The morning papers had carried
the story and we were receiving callsfrom citizens who had seen Kerry. From
the report, it was believed he'dgotten out of the blockade area and he
was heading for the San Fernando Valley. Roadblocks were thrown up on streets leading
off the freeway, and additional menwere called in from the Valley Division to
aid us in the search. Sevenforty two am it had been nineteen hours
since Carry had held up the bank. In that time, the entire facilities
(10:20):
of the police department had been devotedto his capture. Lieutenant Dave Terry from
the Sheriff's Office had joined Captain Donahoenwas coordinating their activities with ours. Seven
forty five am. Frank got backwith some hot coffee. Anything knew,
No, I got to report Kerrywas seen at the Violin cut off check
O. No know you and Igot some coffee for you, George.
Thanks, And then he happened.Yeah, we got him condemned where valley?
(10:48):
A lot of ground, aren't Wejust gotta call Kerry pulled into a
gas station in Riverside, attended,recognizing, tried to stall Kerry, got
wise, started to leave. Yeah, pulled a gun, shot them out
up pretty bad. Chill him,No, got him in valley emergency.
But about Kerry still loose? CoronerJaska Friday Smith. We got him where,
broke into a house on Woodman.A couple of motorcycle officers, got
(11:09):
him pinned down, And let's go, Joe. Yeah, take the business
office to check out everything in theracks, all right, go with him,
Frank. We'll need gas, shelvesand masks, barricade and penetration.
Better take a box of double lotsfor the shotguns and plenty forty rives.
You'll be there. Leave him now, I'll go to Johan Flanks. Okay,
let's go. Let's getting roughing.Yeah, what about the house he's
(11:30):
picked? What do you mean,who's in a kind of place of it?
It doesn't make a lot of difference. We still got the same job.
We got to get him out.We left the city hall and drove
out to the valley. Code threeby the time we've gotten there. Several
other officers from Central Robbery in theValley Division were on the scene. We
talked with Sergeant Pat Murphy of ouroffice. What do you know about the
(11:52):
place? Six rooms here? Letme lay off for you, kat Petzel,
I got a pen here. Ohthanks? All right? Now the
house is built in the shape ofthe EU and living room runs along the
front of the dining room here onthe corner here. Yeah, the kitchen
is here and here's a backdoor anycover there. Officers are found him watching
(12:15):
him. Yeah, there's a closethere off the service port. On the
other side, there's bedroom here doorthe bath and another bedroom. Just the
two doors, yeah, the frontand the one off the kitchen. Would
you get this layout? I talkedto the woman next door. She's a
friend of the family, owns theplace. Been in satellite with the family.
Yeah, we're not sure, andnever says she thinks they're all out.
(12:37):
And the man goes to work atsix when he usally drives a kid
to school about seven thirty, Iwho put off the car, motor rocks
as they saw the car parked thecurb, went to check it out.
Carey was inside. He made thehouse. We try to get him on
you. No, they weren't surehe was alone. How'd you do?
Well? We got here right afterthey. At the time we got to
Kurby started to shoot. Any chanceof getting to him from the back of
the house, it'd be rough.The shades are all pulled down. Tell
(13:00):
where he is? Will you goin? He can be sitting under the
window waiting for us. How aboutthe phold? We tried and he won't
answer it. About all of himas much as we've got, Well,
what do you want to do?Give him a chance to walk out.
It would be his choice. Talkto him. Yeah, give him a
chance to open the door. Well, it's gonna be hard. We haven't
been able to get near the place, and big things to make sure.
He's a longer. As far aswe've been able to tell, he is,
there's no movement inside, no noisetrying to round up the family.
(13:24):
Now, can't wait for that.Let's get on him. I'll try to
talk to him. You can't makeit, Joe. He's in a box
and he knows it. Maybe you'regonna bring him out and you want to
do it, Go ahead, hemakes the move, get out fast.
I won't mean that. We'll getme coverage. The last time you heard
from me is in the living room. Is that right? Yeah, there's
three windows on the left there.Okay, easy, Joe, carry,
(13:50):
Carrie, carry, Come on carry. You can't sit in there forever?
Well, a smart walk outside andit'll be all right. Don't cause any
more trouble now, how about it, Kerry, you're making a rougher on
(14:11):
yourself. Come on out, Carrie. You can't win. You know that.
I don't have to tell you itdidn't work clock around out before you
(14:33):
started. Carrie, isn't gonna walk? Well, they called it, you
know, get the gas guns.The people living across the street and on
each side of the house were askedto leave their homes in the event there
would be any more shooting. Theriot guns were brought from the car and
they were loaded with penetration gas shells. Because of the physical way out of
(14:54):
the house, it was decided toshoot into the rear of the building and
try to drive the suspect toward thefront of the place. Officer Murphy,
along with Lieutenant Stoner, went backto the alley that ran along the rear
of the property. The two uniformmen covered the sides of the house,
and Frank and I took up ourstations in front of the building nine fourteen,
A house of time that m Iought to be in position. Y'all
(15:15):
set on that gun. Yeah,I think you'll give up there, don't
no flip a coin. The landingin the pretty quick. There it goes
away. The house is divided.He could close the doors to the back
room and keep us going for awhile. Let's to have an idea where
he is in the house. Yeah, I should corn it in. That's
(15:41):
lousy stuff, Terry gas lousy stillremember it from the academy. Frank trunk
windows if no shade was pulled out, I think I saw something. Get
the stoner telling to hold a gun. Yeah, there's a woman in there
with him. Because of the possibilitythat there might be another person in the
(16:02):
house, all shooting into the buildingwas stopped. An immediate effort was made
to identify the other person. Theowner of the place, Virgil Bush,
was contacted. He told us thathe and his wife had left the house
at about the same time. She'dtaken their son to a neighborhood school,
and then he thought that she'd returnedto the house. The check was made
at the school and the youngster wasfound to be present. From all indications,
Missus Bush was in the house withKerry him was being held a hostage.
(16:25):
Ten fifty six am we met withCaptain Donahan Lieutenant Stoner. Any chance
you were wrong, Joe, No, I don't think so. Right after
the guns went off, I thoughtI saw the woman at the front window,
look like she's trying to get out. What do you want to do?
And ask her much left? Woman'sgotta get out of there before we're
gonna have to carry that's where todo that school and after? Yeah,
what about using triple chasers might work? If we're going the back way,
we can drive carry towards the livingroom. Yeah, but what if he
(16:45):
takes a woman with it? Keephim busy enough in the wounds figures she's
given him plenty of trouble by thistime, going to be a rough form
the drive her along, then itmight work. Who's going into thank now
you can do it. You cangive us a cover where you're gonna make
it. What's your room? Didyour hit Stoner? Back bedroom in the
kitchen that covers both sides of thehouse. Then, yeah, the gas
holding. As far as we cantell, it's still there. It might
be better than to go into thebedroom. Drive carry into the living room.
(17:06):
Hope we can pick up the womanon the way. All right,
you got the masks. I wantto give me a hand, Frank,
Yeah, we'll give you all thecover we can. Joe, good,
We can't shoot it into the hospital. We'll make Carry think we are all
right. Once you got the woman, bring her out. If Carry goes
into the living room, don't tryto go after him. Let him sit
for a while. We'll take careof the rest of it later. Okay,
here, you guys, Joe,here, they're triple chasers. Since
(17:26):
I want to do hu, i'llpick the sod off. You should be
able to handle him with that.I don't have to tell you. They
want of you to take it easy. So we want that woman, but
we want her alive. Anything comesup that gets in the way, pull
out, don't wait to ask questions. Right, all right, get on
it, let's go free, right, Joe. Yeah, Carry's rough.
He's planning for keeps. You know, he'll kill you if he gets a
chance, or it makes it easy. We won't give him one Frank and
(17:49):
I went around at the back ofthe house and put on the gas masks.
He loaded the shotgun and flipped offthe safety. I checked the triple
chasers. They're about the size ofa beer can, and they built like
a hand and grenade. Two secondsafter the pin is pulled and the lever
is released, the shell explodes intothree parts. Each of them throws out
a large quantity of tear gas.By using them, an officer can completely
fill an area with gas almost immediately. A few minutes after we were in
(18:12):
position, the covering gun fire started. Well said, if you're gonna talk
one in the bedroom, better makesure it's clear. Okay, I watched
it. Go ahead, I'll probablyhurt part one. All right, that's
(18:38):
clean. Well, let's get thenext room. It's the bathroom and should
be. To get the door,I'll talk the shell a right. Fit
a minute. Wait a minute,you got the pinnute? Oh good,
get a second. All up,and that's empty. Yeah that room there,
(19:04):
Uh huh, hold it, okay, hell, let's go. Let's
carry. He's getting the living room. We better get him. Wait a
minute on the better the woman,well, we better get her out of
(19:25):
here, all right, naked,I think, so get that window with
it. Yeah, and I gotto say it. I'll go first.
I'll take her on the outside.All right, hold it right there,
carry's Murph Friday and spets. Giveus a hand. We got the woman,
Henna, let me help. Okay, Joe, you got her?
(19:45):
Yeah? All right, come on, let's get her out here. What
do I get this mask off onyou? Okay, Joe? Wait on
it. Yeah, how's a womanshe used to be? All right,
give me hand getting this tape off? Yeah? Thank god? None.
He was gonna kill me every minute. I thought he was gonna kill me.
(20:06):
All right, now, my boys, to take it easy. It's
crazy. That man's crazy. Ifyou haven't got it, he kill me.
Job and no, boy, let'sget out of here. Come on,
you got her home? Ask efyou all right, ma'am. It
isn't his fault. So I've neverseen anybody like that before. All right,
missus? Book you want to takeher to scarm sure? Just a
minute, man, what can youtell us? How many guns carry his
(20:27):
gun? How many guns did yousee? Who? Difference does it make?
It makes a lot of different stuffs. I don't know. He's got
a pistol. You know we sawthat anything else. Yeah, he's got
a rifle to a shotgun. Ithink did you see it? He brought
it into the house. Where isit? What do you mean? What
part of the house is it end? You know, the front room.
I guess that's where it was thelast time I thought you got any shoulds
for a lot of me at hispockets full? All right, that's all,
(20:48):
thank you. You're gonna get himnow, we're gonna try. You
have to shoot him, ma'am.He told me so himself that you wouldn't
take him alive. Told me totry to take a couple of you with
him. No, it isn't gonnachange. He's still going. Miss Bush
was taking to one of the neighborhoodhouses and we got ready to take the
(21:11):
suspect into custody. The house wascompletely surrounded. All of the doors and
windows were covered. Each man wasinstructed to shoot the killing the event carry
tried to escape or made any effortto fire into the crowd. Then a
last attempt to get him out ofthe house without additional bloodshed, the bullhorn
was brought from the corn. Wetried to talk to him. Yere Joe
all right, telling us at thelast time around drew or through a playing
(21:32):
games, right, Kerry, carry, give it out, Throw those guns
out and you follow them. Allright. We'll tell you where you stand.
There are a lot of us outhere. We've all got orders to
(21:52):
kill you. If you try anythingyou're think getting sit in there and we
can't cut you. You got itwrong. We'll blow the roofloff if we
have to. Tony's got ten secondsthrown called them all for him, stand
by with gas guns. Yes,go ahead, John, Kerry, you're
running out of time. We'll giveyou ten seconds to come out of there
(22:17):
the last time. Throw the gunsout and come out after him. Ten
seconds. Carry, that's all yougot. Nine eight, seven, six,
five four three two. That's allyou got. Time's up, all
(22:41):
right? Throw him in prow aboutthat rock port. Here's a machine guns
job. I got it. Let'shave good lumps, talk some more in.
You gotta come up pretty quick.Yeah, there he is, got
(23:06):
that shotgun you don't Yeah, easyenough, Terry, Terry not moving?
Yeah, how about it? Allright? Must have been dead winning at
(23:32):
the floor. Yeah, we're lucky. I don't know what we had to
kill him. The story you havejust heard is true. The names were
changed to protect the innocence. OnMonday, May ninth, an inquest was
(23:52):
held in the Cordiner's office in andfor the country of Los Angeles State of
California. The coroner's jury found thatthe death of Thomas Herbert Kerry was caused
by gunshot wounds resulting from an attemptto resist arrest. The officers were absolved
(24:14):
from blame. Dragnett. The Storyof Your Police Force in Action is a
presentation of the United States Armed ForcesRadio Service SUS SUS SUS SUST
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