 you're about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant, you're assigned a robbery detail. A man is pulled from his car on a deserted street. He's robbed, beaten viciously, his car is stolen. A criminal makes good, he's escaped. Your job, find him. Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step-by-step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. It was Monday, July 9th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day walks out a robbery detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Thad Brown, Chief of Detectives. My name's Friday. It was 9.55 a.m. when we got to the Stacey Hollywood Department Store. Personal Department. Stacey Hollywood. That would be the Yardish Department. Yes, ma'am. I'll connect you. Yes, sir. Can I help you? Police officer. Yes, sir. I'd like to speak to one of your employees, Harvey Kimbrough. Just a moment. I'll page in for you. You got a match? Yeah. Here you go. Thank you. When I was a kid, I never could figure out what that was. What's that? The auto call system. Call employees to the phone. It rings all over the story, you know? Yeah, I know. Office. Yes, Mr. Kimbrough. There are two policemen waiting to see you on the 10th floor. All right. That was Mr. Kimbrough. He's on his way up. Thank you very much. Did I give you the crime report on this thing? No, I think you kept it in. Let's see. Stacey Hollywood. Oh, yeah. Here you go. Oh, say. What do you got there? They call them Pepto pals. They're good. Call them. But what are they for? They go to Stomach. For Stomach, that's not good. Well, I haven't got a Stomachache. These gentlemen here, Stella? Yes, that's right. You, Harvey Kimbrough? Yes, sir. That's right. I sure appreciate you people coming over here. I don't like to take time off from work. It makes it tough on my partners, Clive and Warren. Yes, we understand. January work in a big store like this keeps you hopping. You haven't got any idea who the holdup man are yet, have you? No, sir. We haven't. We'd like to get a little more information on what happened. Can't you talk to the two officers in the police car? Yes, we did. But it's customary for us to make a follow-up for any additional information. You fellas are plain clothesmen, is that it? Yeah, we're from Central Robert. Oh, I see. Well, I never knew I'd get this much service. Yes, sir. Wonderful. We might step outside the officer. I don't imagine you want to discuss your personal business here in the office. Yes, very considerate of you. Thank you. Fine. I wonder if you'd mind going over to again, force, Mr. Kimbrough? Maybe something you didn't think of when the other officers talked to you? I believe I told them everything. I was on my way into work this morning, about 5 a.m. You live out now, Hammer? Yes, sir. That's right. I take the free way in. It was on Commercial Street that you were held up? That's right. Commercial, right near Alameda, almost to the corner, where they're tearing those buildings down. Man flagged me down, looked like his car was installed. Yes, sir. I always make it a habit to stop when I see somebody in trouble. I know how it is that time in the morning. No gas stations open. Maybe the fellow needed a shove or something. So you stopped to give him a hand, is that right? That's what I had in mind. I'd no more stop the car. He came over, pointed a gun at me and told me to get out. What'd you do? Well, I asked the fellow what they want. I told him I didn't have any money. Told him it was on my way into work. What'd you say to them? Didn't say anything. He just opened the car door, grabbed me by the arm and pulled me out. I wasn't prepared for it and I kind of fell out onto the street. Yeah. I still didn't know what he was after. Thought at first he might have been crazy. He was going to kill me. Why'd you think he was going to kill you? Did he threaten you? No, but the gun and all and the way he pulled me out of the car. I just couldn't make it out. I see. Would you go on, please? Well, he took my wallet from me. All the money I had, $14. And then he said, don't bother to get up and stay right there for five minutes after I leave. And then he bent down and he hit me in the face. When did he hit you with? With his fist. Me right here in the mouth. You can see the car right inside of my lip here. I know. You see the blood pretty heavy. Yeah, it's a nasty cut. What's better now? A man who came in the ambulance, they put something on it. It'll be all right. Well, did he knock you out when he hit you? No. I saw him get into my car and then the car parked up ahead, took off and this man who held me up, he followed my car. Do you have anything more on the description of the hold-up man or his car? No, I think I told the other officers everything I can remember. Would you recognize a man if you saw him again, Mr. Ambrose? Yes, sir. I think I would. Your car is a blue 1948 Dodge sedan, right rear fender damage. Is that correct? Yes, sir. Any other identifying marks at all? No, sir. That's about the size of it. And the other car looked to you like a late model Chevrolet, is that right? 49 or 50 anyway, two ton green. Yes, sir. That's what we have. Did you see the license number on that? No, sir. I didn't. This, uh, this witness who's listed here, Mr. Sidney Ferguson. That was the fellow that stopped and picked me up, brought me into work. Did you talk to him yet? He might be able to help. Well, we're going to see him as soon as we leave you, 800 block on Saddlecoy. Yes, sir. That's right. I sure hope you get that, Thief. My car, too, awful hard to get around Los Angeles without a car. I don't do it, man. I was just wondering, Mr. Kimbrough. Yes, sir. What's that? Well, you say that when the man hit you, he didn't knock you out. You weren't unconscious. No, sir, it was not. Well, did you try to locate a phone, call for help? I didn't have to. This Mr. Ferguson pulled up and stopped right away and then the officers came. Besides, I figured I better do what I was told. How's that? I was afraid. I was going to wait five minutes. Ben and I left the department store, picked up our car in the parking lot next door and drove out to the San Fernando Valley, the 800 block on Saddlecoy Avenue. Citizens' homes have been ridden one more time. Come back through the gate, then, on the driveway. This way, I guess, huh? Yeah. This is the Ferguson house. Yes, sir. We're looking for Sidney Ferguson. Surely, I'm Sidney Ferguson. Police officers, Mr. Ferguson. About that hold up this morning. I'm on commercial stream. Yes, sir. That's right. This is Sergeant Romero. My name's Friday. Happy new year. Excuse my wet hand. Been cleaning out my tanks. Yes, sir. You fellas work out at City Hall? Yes, we do. You wouldn't have to know of John O'Grady down there. Narcotics Division. My tightline. No, I don't believe I know him. Ben? O'Grady? Yeah. Call fellow, kind of blonde, wavy hair? Yeah, yeah, that's right. Good-looking fella. Yeah, I think I've seen him around. Good friend of mine. Wasn't that a shameless morning at the Kimbrough guy? Yeah, it was a rough one. The reason we came out to see is that we thought that maybe you could give us some additional information on it. Glad to give you all the help I can. Glad to see you get that hold up, man. Mind giving us a rundown on what happened this morning? I don't know. It's around five o'clock this morning. I'm not usually up that time in the morning, but I was on my way back from Monterey Park. Then I tried to make it down there at least once, twice a month. Go down to see Jack Robinson and the choirs friend I have down there. We swapped fish. Yes, sir. I was on my way back, coming down Commercial Street, and I saw this man sitting on the Saturday curb. It looked like he was hurt to me, sir. Wouldn't have noticed it, probably. It was pretty dark, but those two cars pulled out, one right after the other. It seemed to be in a big hurry. You pulled up to give Kimbrough a hand? Yes, I did. Of course, when I got close enough, I could see the guy had been kicking the teeth, bleeding pretty bad. Offer to take him to hospital, but he said he didn't want to be late for work. After the officers came and talked to him and the ambulance men treated him, I drove him up to Stasis, Hollywood, dropped him off there. That's where he worked, you know. Yeah. Well, the report says here that you got the license number of the getaway car, but you couldn't find the paper that you'd written it on when the officers interviewed you then. Yes, I did. And that doesn't beat them all. What's that? Well, I had the piece of paper a few minutes before the officers got there. I guess I was more rattled than the Kimbrough fella. When I got home here this morning, there was a slip of paper right on the floor of my car. A little bit of a break, isn't it? Yes, there it is. I wonder if we could have it. You bet you can. Let's step inside. All right, thank you. Come on, the fish officers. It's my hobby, tropical fish. Sure got a lot of them. Yeah. Let's see. Now, where did I put that piece of paper? I really wrote it down. Believe me, I just misplaced it someplace here. I'm trying to get rid of some of the algae off the glass of the tanks. Joe, look at these. You ever seen a thing prettier in your life? Yeah. Those are what they call clown fish, saltwater fish. Do you keep all tropical fish in saltwater? Oh, no. Most of them are freshwater. That is ones that breed good in captivity. Where do you get all these fish, catch them? Oh, no. A place called Aquarium Stock Company on Under Everly. Look there, Joe. Down in the corner. See them over there? Yeah. That's a seahorse, Joe. Yeah, that's rain. They're also kept in saltwater. Sure is interesting, huh, Joe? Yeah. How do you fellas really like to see something you haven't seen before? What's that? Look in this tank here. Pop the chromis multicolor. That's a scientific name, commonly known as the Egyptian mouth breeder. That's a fae. It's a little female, eh? She's one of the most sacrificing mothers in aquarium history. One of the strangers, too. How's that? Well, she lays her eggs in a small depression in the sand down there at the bottom of the tank. How many eggs would that be? Usually 80 to 90. Now, here's the strange part. As the eggs are fertilized, she scoops them up in her mouth. She eats them? Oh, no. They remain in her mouth while they hatch. Well, how long does that take? Over 14 days. Well, how does she eat? That's just it. She doesn't. She doesn't touch food in any form for this two-week period. Seems to just waste away. And what happens then? Finally, the eggs hatch after 14 days, and the little fry comes swimming out of the mother's mouth. Yeah. And while the fry are growing up, first you know you can hardly see them. They're so tiny. While they're growing up, if anything frightens them, quick as a flash, they're back in the mother's mouth. That's certainly amazing. Yeah? Yeah. Pop the chromis multicolor, commonly known as the Egyptian mouthbreeder. That is big as ever again? Yes, sir. One inch to an inch and a half. It's hard to believe. The bedders are almost as strange. The male builds a bubble nest on the surface of the water. That's the reason this tank. Oh, here's that paper. The one I wrote the license number on. Oh, that's fine. I wonder if I could see that, please. Here you go. Thank you. I'm pretty sure of this number, Mr. Ferguson. Yes, I am. I got a good look at it. Well, thank you so much, sir. Yeah, thank you. Not at all. Wish could come home and spend a little time. You seem kind of interested in tropical fish. Yeah, well, maybe I'll do that sometime. Bye. Bye. Bye, sir. Thanks very much. That's a good break if this license number checks out, huh? Yeah. That Ferguson's a nice fella here. Say, Sergeant Lamarro. Yes, sir? You almost forgot. I meant to ask you. What's that? About five weeks from now. Yeah? How'd you like a nice pair of baby Egyptian mouth breeders? 10.45 a.m. Ben and I got in the car and headed back toward town. I called communications and had them check the license number Ferguson gave us through DMV. They called back and told us that the car was a 1949 Chevrolet four-door sedan. The registered owner was a Jack B. Grant 19-112 Beacon Street. He's in the southwest part of Los Angeles. Was a large old-fashioned residence that had been converted into a rooming house. We checked with the landlady of Mrs. Ida Fisher. He's been with me here about eight months. What time did you say Grant left this morning, Mrs. Fisher? Well, it was pretty early. Must've been around 4 a.m. when I heard him go out. He came back in again about 8 o'clock this morning. Parked his car and then he drove off with some other man. Would you happen to know the other man? No, I wouldn't. I just saw him drive off. Where does Grant park his car, ma'am? Around back in the garage. What if you'd mind if we take a look? I know. That's all right. You just go right around the back there down the drive. Thank you very much, ma'am. Now, there's two cars parked in there. The black Ford belongs to Mr. Spencer. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. And the 1949 Chevrolet, that's Mr. Grant's. We checked the car and the license number. It matched the description given us by the victim Harvey Kimbrough and the witness Sidney Ferguson. Together with Mrs. Fisher, we checked Jack Grant's room. We found nothing of importance. His clothing and personal effects were all there. Nothing to indicate that he wouldn't be back. We told the lady that we're placing the house under surveillance, and if Grant should return, not to say that we've been there. She agreed and offered further assistance. She said she'd signal us by raising a lowering or front window curtain when Grant returned. We parked down the street, called the office, and advised them we were on stake out. Two men were sent out, and they covered the back entrance. Ben and I covered the front. By six o'clock that night, Grant had failed the show. Nine p.m., still nothing. Eleven p.m. What time did they say that relief team was coming out? Around eleven sometime. Chandler and Wreckett, huh? Yeah, I guess so. Oh, I sure am stiff. Feels like needles all over my body. Been about twelve hours, ain't it? Yeah. Just like driving up San Francisco. Wife always makes me drive all the way. When I climb out of that car, I'm as stiff as a board. Car pulling up down the street there. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Thanks, Wreckett. Hi, Jack. Roddy, who's that you got with you? Same guy that bought you your lunch yesterday. Stop bragging. That's the house right up there. Yeah, that's right. The green and white one there. No sign of him at all, huh? No, nothing. Well, you guys want to take off? Yeah. I guess you'd make out, Rick. It's you got Chandler with you. I feel sorry for you Friday drawing this guy for a partner. Well, after seven years, he kind of grows on you. I'd like to check out the land lady before we take off. Our name's Ida Fisher, Jack. Right, Joe. Let's go, Jim. Yeah. See you later, Jack. Say hello to Chandler. Right, Ben. Have to break it. Sure is her ribs taken. Yeah. Front room lights are still on. I guess she's sweating it out with her. Who is it? Police officers, Ms. Fisher. Who? Sergeant Friday. Oh, yes. Sorry to bother you again, ma'am. That's all right. I just couldn't see who it was. My porch lights burned out. Yes, ma'am. Mr. Branch? I want to get out of his room. I don't see why he hasn't come in. I got a partnership! I got a partnership! All right. Done. He made me hide him. Lady, will you call an ambulance? Hurry. Yo. He's not dead, is he? Lady, get the ambulance, please. When did July 9th, 1128 p.m.? The ambulance arrived when Joe was taken to Georgia Street receiving hospital. His condition was critical. Despite the fact that the other men on the stakeout at the house had closed in as quickly as possible, Jack Grant somehow succeeded in jumping out a side window and making good his escape through a maze of neighboring backyards. The men at the scene began a search of the immediate area. I called in and communications got out of broadcasts on an A-B-B. A spatial detail of men and cruiser cars was rushed to the scene and a blockade's run up around the area. I stayed on and worked with Ricketts and Chandler. Under questioning, the landlady, Mrs. Fisher, broke down and admitted that Grant had given her $10 to keep his presence in the house a secret. He told us that when we'd searched the suspect's room earlier, he had hidden in the cellar. She was taken into custody. 1.30 a.m. I got a relief and I went downtown of the Georgia Street receiving hospital. Being there forward, we removed one slug from the upper thoracic region. Another one from his right shoulder looked like they could have been 38 caliber. They've been marked for evidence. How's he doing? As well as can be expected. What does that mean? It's hard to tell. Depends on how it goes the next four hours. Can I go soon? No. No, we're not admitting anyone in there. Under said it has lost quite a lot of blood. It's pretty weak. Do you need anybody for transfusions? No, it's all taken care of. His relatives have been notified. Yes, sir. Justice Mother, she's visiting relatives up in Renton, Washington. I sent them a wire. They'll break the news to her. It's not all we can do for now. Oh, wonder if I couldn't sneak in and leave this cart in a cigarette spot? I'm afraid it's going to be some time before Sergeant Prada can use them. Just leave them. I'll have the nurse take care of it. All right, Doctor. Thank you. Is there anything I can get for him? Anything he needs? No. We're doing everything we can for him. You don't think I could just look in for a minute? No, I'm sorry. Must be something I can do. You got a good prayer handy? 2 a.m. I left George's street receiving the hospital and drove back to the scene of the shooting. The search for the suspect Jack Grant was still going on. The neighborhood was checked and rechecked. Everything possible was done to find the man who had shot down Sergeant Joe Friday. It's been said that a police department goes all out, doubles its efforts to run down a criminal who attacks a police officer. It's true, but most people aren't aware of the reason. Certain elements you'd have believed that the police officer places the safety of his fellow officers above that of the citizen. This isn't true. His first day at the academy, the cadet peace officer has taught this basic fact. If a criminal would shoot down the armed police officer, he wouldn't hesitate to shoot down the unarmed citizen. 3 a.m. I finally located Lieutenant Jack Ricketts at the corner of Coronado and Beacon Street, seven blocks from the scene of the shooting. How is he? Not too good. Depends on the next four hours. What are his chances? I didn't ask. We're not getting any place here. Nothing at all? Nothing. Something's gotta break. Chandler's still downtown and they're combing through Grant's Package down at the Eye Bureau. Did they come up with anything? Not the last time I checked, about 40 minutes ago. Got any ideas? Fresh out, you? Couldn't have gotten far. Not this soon he couldn't. Bus depots, train terminals, and airports are all covered. Iowa patrol's been alerted. Nothing so far. He's someplace close. He's got to be. I think he's holed up in town too, but where? Yeah. He's in a jam, he's had good publicity. A lot of his friends are gonna hide to welcome that. Maybe that narrows it down a little. Maybe. Let's find him. 3 30 a.m. Jack Ricketts and I got back to the city hall. We went directly to the Eye Bureau. Chandler and Powers had sifted through Jack Grant's Package. They'd drawn up a list of all Grant's known friends and associates. There were 22 names on the list. Three of them were in San Quentin Penitentiary. Two of them were doing time at the Cali Work Forum. That left 17 names on the list. Further checking showed that five of them had out of state addresses. 12 names. The list was split down the middle. Ricketts and I took six names, Chandler and Powers six. Of the 12, with the exception of one, all names had appeared in police blotter in the past eight years. Raymond Weller, Peter Denton, Horace Phillips, Henry Breen. Ricketts and I checked them. Some were in bed. Some hadn't been to bed. We were reasonably sure none of them knew that we're about to the suspect. I called Georgia Street to find out about Joe. They told me no change in his condition. 4.55 a.m. After this when we get a quick bite to eat, huh? You don't look so good. I'm not hungry. What's this one's name? Anthony Baxter, Room 23. This is it. Anthony Baxter? Yeah. Police officers, we want to talk to you. That's a fine hour to get a guy out of bed. You always sleep with your clothes on? I'll just step back there in the room. What's going on? You a friend of Jack Grant's? Why? Do you know Jack Grant? Why? Jack Grant's a friend of yours. I'm not going to tell you anything until I know why. You want to talk here or downtown? I got a right to know what it's all about. Get your head in code. You just want to know if I know Jack or Grant. Is that all? You want to get that code in there? I know Grant. Where is he? I don't want to get mixed up in anything. You're mixed up in it already. You know him. You know, that's a trouble, you guys. Guy tries to walk the street now and you guys come around and try and push him into a corner. Where's Grant? Look, I've been in jail and I did my time. You haven't got anything on me. Baxter, let's get this straight. We're not after you, we're after Grant. We didn't come here to push you around. We don't want you to push us around. Then where is he? I'm going to tell you something. I don't like being talked to this. When I'm not going to stand for it, I've got certain rights and I'm going to stand on them. You listen to me. A friend of mine is lying in the hospital because of your pal Jack Grant. He put two bullets in him. Now I'm tired and I'm out of his work. Where is he? All right, Ben, it's all right. It's the last time around, Baxter. Tell us where Grant is or we could go downtown. Come on, quick. Hotel Filbert, room 605. 527 a.m. We located the Filbert Hotel on North Crocker Street. On the way over, we called in and told him what we'd found. Chandler and Powers met us outside the hotel. They took up their position. Ricketts and I checked with a desk clerk and confirmed that the suspect was in room 605. He was registered under an alias. We took the elevator to the sixth floor. Room 605 is directly across from the elevator. What is it? Police officer. Watch your pants. Now keep your hand out of that pocket, Grant. I wouldn't want to shoot you. 542 a.m. Ricketts and Chandler took the suspect into custody. It was 603 a.m. and I got to Georgia Street receiving hospital B&F ward. Sergeant, how is he? He can go in. He's been staying too long. Hey. Hi, John. You look tired. How are you feeling? All right, little. How'd it go? I'm good, Glenn. You've been working straight through, aren't you? Yeah. Anything I can get you? No. Guess I better hurry up and get out of here, huh? Why? Well, we still got that stolen car to find. Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. On November 7th, trial was held in Superior Court, Department 89, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California, in a moment the results of that trial. Jack Grant was tried and convicted on one count of assault to commit murder. He and his accomplice were convicted on several counts of first-degree robbery. Assault to commit murder is punishable by imprisonment for from one to 14 years. First-degree robbery by imprisonment from five years to life. The landlady, Ida Fisher, was placed on probation. You have just heard dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes...