The Favor

On Monday, a message popped up on the box. It was from Grim.

"Can you do me a favor?"

Grim's works in another division. He's been an officer since the early 70's. He's still works hard. He's earned my respect.

What can I do for you?

"Call me."

I did.

"There's a guy with a chippy warrant. I've confirmed it with the county. It's for contempt of court. He's refusing to pay child support, and you know in my day that's a step above being a child abuser."

No problem, I'll go grab him up.

"Thank you."

I run the name.  I know the man. I did a prem check at his home last fall. His driver's license is suspended for not paying his child support. He has no insurance on his car. 

I approached the house on. His car was in the driveway. The lights were on in his home. I  heard voices inside. I knocked. No one answered. I rang the bell. Nothing. I waited, and then knocked with my mag-lite. Nothing.

Tuesday and Wednesday, I stayed home sick.

On Thursday, I cruised by his house. His car was in the drive. Grumpy tagged along as cover. The T.V. was on. The kitchen light was on. I knocked. Somebody came to the door, and looked out the peep hole. The T.V. turned off. 

Mr. Smith, please answer the door.

Nothing.

Mr. Smith you have a warrant for your arrest. Answer the door.

Nada.

I knocked with my mag-lite. I knocked with my boot.

Grumpy chimed in, "Mr. Smith. You want to be arrested now. You can take care of your business and you're out of jail. You don't want to be arrested out on the road. We'll take your car."

No one answered the door. 

I left my card. I watched the house, talked to the neighbors, and called his phone, telling him, "It's time to turn yourself in." 

 On Friday, I asked a UC officer to come play. 

The car wasn't in the drive.

We waited. The UC had eyes on the house. I hid down the street.

An hour passed and the car rolled by. He didn't see me. I called it out, hit the lights, and accelerated.

He stopped in his drive way. We blocked him in.

Turn off your engine. Put your hands on the steering wheel.

He's stunned.

I pulled him from the car.

If you turned yourself in yesterday, you'd be out today. Now, you'll be in the whole weekend, and now we have your car. You're suspended and you don't have insurance. It'll be impounded until you take care of those matters. 

He cried the whole way to jail.

Comments

[deputydog]

awesome

[Peppypilotgirl]

Commonsense is, yet again, proven to be remarkably uncommon. Nice catch.

[Adam]

I want to feel bad for the guy, but he really did do absolutely everything wrong there.

[Cath]

So he wouldn't open the door for you and face the music, but he still went out driving the next day? You would've thought he at least had the sense to either run off or not go out of the house. People are strange creatures...

[Jade]

When I was in jr. high, my next door neighbors were taken in on drug charges. I remember walking home and noticing police cars - under cover and regular - parked in various places up and down the street. I got in the house and locked all the doors - the neighbor never noticed any of them... drove right past them into his driveway and was pulled out and arrested.

[deputydog]

given a chance to suffer the least, he still choose the most suffering.
proving again somepeople are idiots.

[Christopher]

I love stories with a happy ending.