 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you're about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a robbery detail. A gunman has robbed a bank in your city. From his method of operation, you know he's dangerous. Your job? Get him. 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 Wednesday, May 4th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day to watch out a robbery detail. My partner's Frank Smith, the boss's chief of detectives, Dad Brown. My name's Friday. It was 12 36 p.m. when I got the call and it took me eight minutes to get back to the city hall. Robbery squad room. Back here, Joe? Yeah. Back here. What's up? Oh, bank job and slugging. We've got a rule on it. Where? Corner, Melrose and Fountain. Anybody else on it? Yeah. JJ and Murph went out. All right, let's go. All right. Friday, Smith? Yeah. You two gonna cover the bank, hold up? Yeah, we're just leaving. Don Ho called in. He's out with JJ and Murph. They got it covered out there. Skipper wants you to take Georgia Street and talk to the guard so he can get any information out of him. All right. What's the name? I haven't got it. There's a uniformed man with him. The whole guy's in pretty bad shape. Yeah. When the thief left the bank, the guard tried to stop him. The pistol whipped the old guard. Mm-hmm. He's in critical condition. We just got word that you can talk to him if you get right over there. Better make it fast. All right. And good luck. Yeah. We got to come up with an identification. We got to get it in a hurry. The guy's still running. A matter of time before somebody gets in his way. Mm-hmm. We can't count on it next time. Mm-hmm. The gun jamming. 1247 p.m., Frank and I left the city hall and drove over to Georgia Street receiving hospital. It took us five and a half minutes traveling code three. We went up to the third floor and met the officer who'd been with the guard. You fellas from Central? Yeah, Friday and Smith. Honestly, the victim. You missed him. What do you mean? He died five minutes ago. We checked with the doctor in attendance and found that the victim had said nothing to aid in identifying the suspect. We returned to the office. A local broadcast and an APB had been gotten out on the man carrying his description. A crew from the crime lab had gone over the premises of the bank without gaining any new information. The clerks and tellers had been brought to the city hall to check the mug books. Everything possible was being done to apprehend the bank guard's killer, but without being able to identify him, the job was almost impossible. At 2.48 p.m., we got a call from Captain Donahoe. That's right, Skipper. Mm-hmm. No, they're in the mug room now. No, not yet. Wait a minute. Joe, you want to toss me that pad there? Yeah. There you go, Skipper. Yeah. Mm-hmm. I see. I got it. Now, we'll check right away. Yeah, as soon as we find out. Yes, sir. All right. Goodbye. What do you got? We checked around the neighborhood, found a newsboy, saw the suspect leave the bank. Yeah. The kid got the license number. An immediate check was made with the Department of Motor Vehicles and with our vehicle records. It took us two minutes to get the information. Yeah, we figured it turned out that way. Hey, you want to give me the address? All right. Okay, we'll run it out. How about it? The car was stolen a week ago. A team of men went out to talk to the owner of the automobile. Additional broadcasts were gotten out on the stolen car, carrying the license number, the make and model description. In the event the car was found abandoned, it was to be staked out and we were to be notified. Roadblocks were set up in the area adjacent to the bank and all vehicles were checked. Captain Donahoe came in from the scene and a meeting was held between him and Chief of Detective Stad Brown. At the time, 25 officers from Robbery Division were trying to find a lead to identify the thief. We knew what he looked like, what kind of car he was driving, we knew what kind of gun he had and how much money he'd stolen, but we didn't know who he was or where to find him. The night dragged on. At 1.26 a.m., we got our first break in the case. Excuse me. Yes, ma'am. I'm one of the bank tellers. Yes. The officer who was with us went out to bring in some coffee. I see. He said if we found anything, to come in here. Yes, that's right. Well, we have. All of us agree. We're real sure. What is it? The holdup man. We found his picture. The suspect was identified as Thomas Bud Carey, WMA, 26 years. According to his package, he'd been arrested the first time when he was 16. He'd served a total of five and a half years in state institutions. We checked with Fred Galloway of the adult authority and found that there was an outstanding warrant on Carey for parole violation. Additional broadcasts were gotten out carrying his name and description. Officers in the field were notified of the latest developments. While other teams of men covered Carey's known hangouts and friends, Frank and I left the office and drove out to see his mother. She lived in the rundown apartment house on the east side of town. The building was dark when we got there. Put a light in here. I saw it over here. Yeah. Police officers, we want to talk to you. Nothing for the cops. Get out of here and leave me alone. Come on, Miss Carey, open up. I ain't Miss Carey no more. Now go away. We can do it two ways. You can talk to us here. We can go downtown. What's it about? Your son. On him. Where's he going? We want to check. For what? There ain't nothing here. One lousy room. That's it. Let me see. It's the kitchen. Better take a look at the stove. Might be something there. That place is clean, Joe. It's not true either. Now what do you want? Have you seen your son? He's in trouble again. We'd like to talk to him. What's he done now? You know where he is? No. You know where we can find him? I haven't seen him for a couple of months. Might as well be dead. Well, he isn't. Ain't any difference to me, one way or the other. You know where he lives? He ain't here. That's no kind of an answer. A question, no. That either. Look, I'll tell you. I'm his mother. Long time ago gave him the world. I've had trouble ever since. I'll sleep with the radio on. You got any idea where we can find your son? No. You got any close friends? Maybe. Yes, I don't know. How about girls? What about him? Has your son got one? Last time I saw him, he had a couple. Both of them married. Same as always. He couldn't do anything the easy way. It wasn't a problem. He'd make one. Is there any place he'd go if he was in trouble? Kind. Ma'am? Kind of trouble. What's he done this time? It'll be better if we talk to him about it. Yeah. Always that way. Talk to him. Doing good. I tried for a lot of years. Didn't do no good. You know why? What's that? You know why? Don't do no good. Go ahead. Because he don't listen. You can stand right in front of him and scream the top of your head right off and he don't hear you. Is that right? He was little. First time I caught him stealing, I talked. All day and all night for a week I talked. He stood there and looked at me. I was over. You know what he did? You know? No, ma'am. He did it again. Every time he turned around, he stole something. I tried it all. Breedon's, Yellen, all of it. I tried it all. His father walked out and butt was six left us by ourselves with everything I could to bring him up right. I read the books. Saw the minister. He even had the relief people talk to him. You just couldn't listen. Neil. That time when he was 16, we first picked him up. I thought that might do it. You know, being in jail, a judge in the court. Oh, I prayed it would change. Neil. He didn't. A couple of days later he was right back. You tell his probation officers about it? The bud was 5'10". He was 16. We weighed 170 pounds. If I'd opened my mouth, he'd hit me. Pretty hard thing to say, isn't it? It's hard to live with. All the time. All the tears. I'm tired of crying. I'm tired of working. I'm tired of being alive. I used to pray for him. I asked God to make him come out of a big good man. I prayed and I prayed. I forget I was praying for the wrong thing. So I changed. I know him. I know how he thinks and what he'll do. He's mean. And the souls of his feet he's mean. I still pray. Maybe you're the one to do it. What's that? Kill him. Frank and I arranged for a stakeout on the building. Then we drove back to City Hall. Captain Donahoe and Chief Brown were directing the search from the robbery office. The morning papers had carried the story and we were receiving calls from citizens who'd seen Kerry. From the report it was believed he'd gotten 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 men were called in from the Valley Division to aid us in the search. 742 a.m. It had been 19 hours since Kerry had held up the bank. In that time the entire facilities of the police department had been devoted to his capture. Lieutenant Dave Terry from the Sheriff's Office had joined Captain Donahoe and was coordinating their activities with ours. 745 a.m. Frank got back with some hot coffee. Anything new? No, got a report Kerry was seen at the violent cutoff. Check out? Don't know yet. I got some coffee for you George. No, thanks. Anything happen? Yeah, we got him pinned down. Where? Valley. A lot of ground. Well, we just got a call. Kerry pulled into a gas station in Riverside. Attendant recognized him. Tried to stall. Kerry got wise and started to leave. Yeah. Pulled a gun and shot the man up pretty bad. Killed him? No, got him in Valley Emergency. What about Kerry? Still loose. Doner? You ask him. Friday? Smith? Hi. We got him. Where? Broke into a house on Woodman. A couple of motorcycle officers got him pinned down. Well, let's go. We'll take the business office. Check out everything in the racks. All right. Go with him, Frank. We'll need gas shells and masks. Barricade and penetration. Better take a box of double outs for the shotguns in 2045. Right. You'll be there. Leave him now. I'll go with Joan Frankson. Okay. Let's go. Frank's getting rough. Yeah. When about the house he's picked? What do you mean? Who's in it? 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 3. By the time we'd gotten there, several other officers from Central Robbery and the Valley Division were on the scene. We talked with Sergeant Pat Murphy of our office. What do you know about the place? Six rooms. Here, let me lay out for you. Got a pencil? I got a pen here. Oh, thanks. All right. Now the house is built in the shape of a U. A living room runs along the front. The dining room here on the corner. Here? Yeah. Now the kitchen is here. And here's the back door. Any cover there? Officers have found him while watching it. Yeah. There's a closet here off a service porch. On the other side, there's a bedroom here. Door. The bath. And another bedroom. That's the two doors. Yeah. The front and the one off the kitchen. Where'd you get this layout? I talked to the woman next door. She's a friend of the family. Owns a place. Been inside a lot. Where are they? The family? Yeah. We're not sure. Her neighbor says she thinks they're all out. And the man goes to work at six. The woman usually drives the kid to school at 7.30. Who put out the car? Motor officers. They saw the car parked. The curb went to check it out. Curry was inside. He made the house. Let me try to get him out, yeah? No. They weren't sure he was alone. How'd you do it? Well, we got here right after they did. That time we got to Kirby started to shoot. Any chance of getting to him from the back of the house? It'd be rough. The shades are all pulled down hard to tell where he is. If we go in, he could be sitting under the window waiting for us. How about the phone? We tried. He won't answer it. Are that all of it? Much as we got. Well, what do you want to do? Give him a chance to walk out. It'll be his choice. Talk to him? Yeah. Give him a chance to open the door. It's going to be hard. We haven't been able to get near the place. Now, big things to make sure he's alone. As far as we've been able to tell he is. There's no movement inside. No noise. Trying to round up the family now. Yeah, wait for that. Let's get on it. I'll try to talk to him. Well, you can't make it, Joe. He's in a box and he knows it. Well, maybe that'll bring him out. You want to do it? Go ahead. All right. He makes a move. Get out fast. I won't need that. We'll give you coverage. All right. Last time you heard from him is in the living room. Is that right? Yeah. There's three windows on the left there. Easy, Joe. Carrie. Carrie. Carrie. Come on, Carrie. You can't sit in there forever. Play it smart. Walk outside and it'll be all right. No cause any more trouble now. How about it? Carrie. You're making it rougher on yourself. Come on out, Carrie. You can't win. You know that. I don't have to tell you it didn't work. Yeah. The clock ran out before you started. Carrie isn't going to walk. No. Well, he called it. Yeah. Get the gas guns. People living across the street and on each side of the house were asked to leave their homes in the event there would be any more shooting. The riot guns were brought from the car and they were loaded with penetration gas shells. Because of the physical layout of the house, it was decided to shoot into the rear of the building and try to drive the suspect toward the front of the place. Officer Murphy, along with Lieutenant Stoner, went back to the alley that ran along the rear of the property. The two uniformed men covered the sides of the house and Frank and I took apart stations in front of the building. 9.14 a.m. How's the time? Probably ought to be in position. You all set on that gun? Yeah. You think you'll give up? I don't know. Flip a coin. I ought to be laying it in now pretty quick. There it goes. The way the house is divided, you could close the doors to the back room and keep it going for a while. At least we'll have an idea where he is in the house. Yeah. You sure pouring it in? Yeah. That's lousy stuff. Hm? Tear gas. Lousy. Still remember it from the academy. Frank. Front window. See? No. Shade was pulled back. I think I saw something. Were you carrying? Get to Stoner. Tell him to hold a gun. Yeah. There's a woman in there with him. 9.14 a.m. Because of the possibility that there might be another person in the house, all shooting into the building was stopped. An immediate effort was made to identify the other person. The owner of the place, Virgil Bush, was contacted. He told us that he and his wife had left the house at about the same time. She'd taken their son to a neighborhood school and then he thought that she'd return to the house. A check was made at the school and the youngster was found to be present. From all indications, Mrs. Bush was in the house with Kerry and was being held hostage. 10.56 a.m. We met with Captain Donahoe and Lieutenant Stoner. Any chance you were wrong, Joe? No, I don't think so. Right after the guns went off, I thought I saw the woman at the front window. It looked like she was trying to get out. What do you want to do now, Skipper? Not much left. That woman's got to get out of there before we can go in after Kerry. That's the way to do that. That's going after her. Yeah. What about using triple chasers? Might work. If we go in the back way, we can drive Kerry toward the living room. Keep him busy enough and he won't. Figures she's giving him plenty of trouble by this time. Gonna be rough for him to drag her along. Then it might work. Who's going in? Frank, now you can do it. You can give us a cover. Where are you gonna make it? Which room did you hit, Stoner? Back bedroom and the kitchen. That covers both sides of the house, then? Yeah. The gas holding? As far as we can tell. It's still there. Might be better than to go into the bedroom. Drive Kerry into the living room. Hope we can pick up the woman on the way. All right. You got the masks? I'll get them. Want to give me a hand, Frank? Yeah. We'll give you all the cover we can, Joe. We can't shoot into the house. We'll make Kerry think we are. All right. Once you got the woman, bring her out. All right. If Kerry goes into the living room, don't try to go after him. Let him sit for a while. We'll take care of the rest of it later. Okay. Thank you, Joe. All right. Here are the triple chasers. Six of them ought to do, huh? Yeah. I'll take the sod off. You should be able to handle him with that. Yeah. I don't have to tell either one or you to take it easy. No. We want that woman, but we want her alive. Anything comes up, it gets in the way. Pull out. Don't wait to ask questions. Right. All right. Joe. Yeah. Kerry is rough. He's playing for keeps. You know he'll kill you if he gets a chance. Well, it makes it easy. Mm-hmm. We won't give him one. Frank and I went around to the back of the house and put on the gas masks. He loaded the shotgun and flipped off the safety. I checked the triple chasers. They're about the size of a beer can, and they're built like a hand grenade. Two seconds after the pin is pulled and the lever is released, the shell explodes into three 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're in position, the covering gun fire started. Oh, that's it. Let's go. Here. You gonna toss one in the bedroom? Better. Make sure it's clear. Okay. All right, watch it. Go ahead. I'll cover you. All right. That's clean. Yeah, let's get the next room. The bathroom, isn't it? Should be. I'll have to get the door all tossed to shell. All right. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. You got the pin? Wait a minute. All right, go ahead. Give it a second. Okay. All right, let's go. It's empty. Yeah. Bedroom next. Uh-huh. Hold it. It's in the living room. You better get him. Wait a minute. Huh? On the bed, it's the woman. Come on, we better get her out of here. All right. You make it? I think so. Get that window, will you? Yeah. Wait till I get the shade. I'll go first, and I'll take her on the outside. All right. Hold it right there, Kerry. It's us, Murph. Friday and Smith, give us a hand. We got the woman. Uh-huh. Here, let me help. Okay, Joe. All right, you got her? Yeah. All right. Come on, let's get her out of here. Wait till I get this mask off, will you? Okay, Joe. Wait a minute. Yeah. How's the woman? She seems to be all right. Want to give me a hand, get this tape off? Yeah. I thought he was going to kill me. Every minute, I thought he was going to kill me. You're all right now, Miss Bush. Take it easy. He's crazy. That man's crazy. If you hadn't got it, he'd have killed me. Sure. I know that. All right, Miss Bush. You got her, huh? Yeah, Skipper. You all right, ma'am? Yes, it isn't his fault, though. I've never seen anybody like that before. All right, Miss Bush. You want to take her to Karma? Sure. Just a minute, ma'am. What? Can you tell us how many guns Kerry's got? What? How many guns did you see? What difference does it make? It makes a lot of difference to us. I don't know. He's got a pistol. Yeah, we saw that. Anything else? Yeah, he's got a rifle to a shotgun, I think. Did you see it? He brought it into the house. Where is it? What do you mean? What part of the house is it in, do you know? There's a front room, I guess. That's where it was the last time I saw it. Has he got any shells for it? Yeah, a lot of them. That is pockets full. All right, that's all. Thank you. You going to get him now? We're going to try. You'll have to shoot him. Ma'am. He told me so himself. Said you wouldn't take him alive. Uh-huh. Told me if you tried, you'd take a couple of you with him. Yeah, it wasn't going to change things. Hmm? He's still going. Miss Bush was taken to one of the neighborhood houses, and we got ready to take the suspect into custody. The house was completely surrounded. All of the doors and windows were covered. Each man was instructed to shoot to kill in the event. Kerry tried to escape or made any effort to fire into the crowd. In a last attempt to get him out of the house without additional bloodshed, the bullhorn was brought from the car, and we tried to talk to him. Hey, all right, Joe. All right. Tell him this is the last time around, Joe. We're through playing games. All right. Kerry? Kerry, give it up. Throw those guns out and you follow them. All right, we'll tell you where you stand. There are a lot of us out here. We've all got orders to kill you if you try anything. You think you can sit in there and we can't touch you. You got it wrong. We'll blow the rope off if we have to. Tell him he's got 10 seconds, Joe. All right. Count them all for him. All right. Stand by with gas guns. Yes, sir. Go ahead, Joe. Kerry, you're running out of time. We'll give you 10 seconds to come out of there. It's the last time. Throw the guns out and come out after them. 10 seconds, Kerry. That's all you got. 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. That's all you got. Time's up. All right. Throw them in. Where's that front porch? Here's the machine gun, Joe. We got it. Must have good lungs. Yeah. Toss them all in. Got to come up pretty quick. Yeah. There he is. Got that shotgun. Sit down. Yeah. Easy now. Kerry. Kerry. Not moving. Cover me. Yeah. Must have been dead when he hit the floor. Yeah. We were lucky. I don't know. What? We had to kill him. The story you have just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On Monday, May 9th, an inquest was held in the coroner's office in and for the county of Los Angeles, state of California. In a moment, the results of that inquest. The coroner's jury found that the death of Thomas Herbert Kerry was caused by gunshot wounds resulting from an attempt to resist arrest. The officers were absolved from blame. You have just heard DRAGNET, a series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police W. H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department. Technical advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Winn, Sergeant Frans Precher. Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Stacey Harris, Virginia Greg, Jack Krushen, June Whitley. Script by John Robinson. Music by Walter Schumann. Hellgivny speaking. Hear DRAGNET next week. Same time, same station.