Christian Family Services Ministry

6-23-2023 – A Word to the Wise – THE CHILDREN

Sometimes one knows beyond any question that the Lord has intervened in a series of events. This is most certainly not a new experience for me yet sometimes it just seems so impossible.

Most of the officers I have known yearn to catch the bad guys, rescue someone, bring a sense of peace to their environment.

Oct. 21, 1995 One man, element 2676

On the way to the Dallas Police Department, I told the Lord I wanted to serve Him in all that I did today please be my help and guide. I was assigned to crowd control for an event near noon. As usual I arrive early to patrol by myself. It is 7 A.M.

Arrived at Southeast checked out a vehicle and cleared. ‘2676 clear one man.’ ‘2676 is clear one man.’ I leave southbound on Jim Miller.

I have just left the station when an emergency signal is emitted, ‘362, 367 you are authorized code three on a kidnapping in progress, on Alameda and Camp Wisdom near the VA hospital.’

I did not normally work in this area but knew it well. These elements 362, and 367’s area of operation is in far South Dallas, around the Veteran Hospital. The dividing line for the districts is Lancaster which runs North and South. The west side is channel 4, the east side channel 3. For the most part you never answer calls out of your district.

At first, I ignored the call, I did not care to go that far South, but the Lord prompted me, why not start a grid search?” In the meantime, communications gave descriptions of the woman and the two children.

Further information included that it was felt the children were in danger because the suspect had committed homicide the night before. Description of the suspect was given; black female, 30 years of age with 2 children (5 and 7) walking in an unknown direction from the location. The suspect was not related to the children and was wanted for kidnapping and homicide.

Several elements were called to help in the search. There was no sign of the suspect or of the kids. They had just disappeared.

I immediately began to look for the suspect. In the meantime, two other elements were assigned the call as cover, 363, and 366. Further information was provided saying the women had kicked in the door and taken two children. The suspect had a history of family violence and was wanted for multiple homicides in Ft. Worth the night before. She was considered armed and dangerous. The Helicopter was now joining the search.

I searched channel 3 for about 40 minutes then had to start towards channel four for my assignment. Crossing over to channel four on Ledbetter I notified dispatch. ‘2676, go ahead,’ 2676 going to channel 4.’ ‘Received.

As I sped up the Lord prompted me to slow down and check Barlett on the right, nothing. He again said, slow down again, look right. I looked down Kildare, nothing. Again, slow down. Nothing, approaching Ledbetter and Burnside, look right came the instructions, looking I observed in the far distance a black female and 2 children about 2 blocks north walking south. I turned around and slowly drove down the street.

‘2676, give the description of the homicide suspect with the 2 kids. 2676,’ ‘Black female 30 years of age, two children, boy 7 dressed it blue short dark pants, 5-year-old female grey blue blouse, grey skirt.’ ‘2676 I have the suspect, officer needs assistance; homicide suspect and 2 children.’

Fifteen seconds goes by finally, ‘2676 there is no one available.’ Now that is never done, never have I heard a dispatcher refuse an assist officer emergency!

I had no other option; let her walk a hundred yards more pulled in front to stop her and the kids. I again ask if she was ok, did she need to get out of the cold. The woman refused help. I slowly drove on. I could see we were coming to a major highway with heavy traffic, I could not let her get any further. Channel 4 came on again and asked if I wanted to go the channel 3 and see if anyone would help. I acknowledged it and went to channel 3.

‘2676, assist officer, I have a homicide suspect and two kidnapped children can anyone help?’ The immediate answer, 362, 367 code 3 , assist officer he has your homicide suspect, your authorized code 3. At Ledbetter and Burnside.

But I could not wait any longer, it would be too dangerous to let her get on the major highway with the children.

I pulled in front of her, stopped the vehicle got out, opened the rear door, and stopped the woman as she neared the vehicle, told her it was too cold for the children they need to get in the car. She refused. “kids get in the vehicle”, they both ran and got in. She started to argue. I said in a very quiet tone, “I know who you are, and what you have done, you do not want the kids to see what I am about to do.

She hesitates. “Put both hands on the trunk”. She finally complied. Now I have a decision. It is not wise to handcuff her, she could resist and fight. Never, ever try to physically fight with a woman. It is a good way to get bitten, scratch, kicked, hit it is not the thing to do. In the distance I heard sirens. I decided to wait. Momentarily both elements started to arrive and come to a screaming halt. Four officers jumped out to help.

Thinking after why she could not be found, it was apparent she simply left that home and crossed the street with the two kids. She crossed from District 3 to District 4. For all practical purposes she was invisible, except to the Lord.