WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:12.960 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. 00:12.960 --> 00:16.400 Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:16.400 --> 00:28.520 NBC brings you Dragnet. 00:28.520 --> 00:30.200 You're a detective sergeant. 00:30.200 --> 00:32.680 You're assigned to robbery detail. 00:32.680 --> 00:38.120 A ruthless fiend roams the streets of your city, masquerading as a police officer. 00:38.120 --> 00:42.880 For months, helpless citizens have been robbed, beaten senseless, and kidnapped. 00:42.880 --> 00:47.640 The criminal is a twisted genius, vicious, cunning. 00:47.640 --> 00:51.120 Your job is to get him. 00:51.120 --> 00:58.680 Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime, investigated and solved by the men 00:58.680 --> 01:04.840 who unrelentingly stand watch on the security of your home, your family, and your life. 01:04.840 --> 01:08.960 For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will 01:08.960 --> 01:13.120 travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case from official police 01:13.120 --> 01:17.880 files, from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. 01:17.880 --> 01:22.120 Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. 01:22.120 --> 01:27.520 It was Wednesday, June 4th. 01:27.520 --> 01:29.320 It was warm in Los Angeles. 01:29.320 --> 01:32.320 We were working the night watch out of robbery detail. 01:32.320 --> 01:33.640 My partner is Ben Romero. 01:33.640 --> 01:36.120 The boss is Ed Backstrand, chief of detectives. 01:36.120 --> 01:37.120 My name's Friday. 01:37.120 --> 01:43.600 I was on my way back from communications and it was 11.13 p.m. when I got to room 27A. 01:43.600 --> 01:44.600 Robbery detail. 01:44.600 --> 01:46.600 Oh, hi, Joe. 01:46.600 --> 01:47.600 Hi, Ben. 01:47.600 --> 01:49.560 You got that message to call home? 01:49.560 --> 01:50.560 Yeah, bad news. 01:50.560 --> 01:51.560 What's the matter? 01:51.560 --> 01:53.840 That dog gone kid of mine chicken pox. 01:53.840 --> 01:54.840 Oh, again? 01:54.840 --> 01:56.320 Last year it was a mumps. 01:56.320 --> 01:58.040 Year before that, the measles. 01:58.040 --> 02:01.120 Every time I get set for a vacation, he decides to catch something. 02:01.120 --> 02:02.120 Forget it, Ben. 02:02.120 --> 02:04.480 Think what a comfort he's gonna be in your old age. 02:04.480 --> 02:06.080 Go ahead, lad. 02:06.080 --> 02:07.080 You'll find out. 02:07.080 --> 02:08.080 Yeah? 02:08.080 --> 02:13.080 How are you Friday, Romero? 02:13.080 --> 02:14.080 Fine. 02:14.080 --> 02:16.480 What can we do for you? 02:16.480 --> 02:18.200 You don't look like you remember me. 02:18.200 --> 02:19.200 Oh, no, wait a minute. 02:19.200 --> 02:21.200 Name's Savage, isn't it? 02:21.200 --> 02:22.200 George? 02:22.200 --> 02:23.200 Johnny, Sergeant. 02:23.200 --> 02:24.200 Johnny Savage. 02:24.200 --> 02:25.200 You remember now? 02:25.200 --> 02:26.200 Oh, sure. 02:26.200 --> 02:28.720 Those liquor store robbers out in the Wilshire district. 02:28.720 --> 02:30.520 About six, seven years ago, wasn't it? 02:30.520 --> 02:31.520 Ten years, Romero. 02:31.520 --> 02:32.520 You ought to remember that. 02:32.520 --> 02:33.760 You went to trial. 02:33.760 --> 02:35.720 We testifying court every week. 02:35.720 --> 02:37.320 Ten years is a long time. 02:37.320 --> 02:38.600 It's longer in the state pen. 02:38.600 --> 02:40.480 It's a lot longer. 02:40.480 --> 02:42.600 You cried a little at that trial, didn't you, Savage? 02:42.600 --> 02:44.600 You said we beat that confession out of you. 02:44.600 --> 02:47.120 Yeah, that's why I figured I'd drop in for a little visit. 02:47.120 --> 02:49.720 I kind of apologized to you fellas. 02:49.720 --> 02:50.720 You gave me a square deal. 02:50.720 --> 02:52.480 I guess I kind of lost my head. 02:52.480 --> 02:53.480 I figured I'd apologize. 02:53.480 --> 02:54.480 Oh, that's all right, Savage. 02:54.480 --> 02:55.480 When did you get out? 02:55.480 --> 02:58.200 A couple of weeks ago. 02:58.200 --> 03:00.360 I did it the hard way. 03:00.360 --> 03:01.360 Served ten flat. 03:01.360 --> 03:02.360 I don't own my day. 03:02.360 --> 03:03.360 You find a job yet? 03:03.360 --> 03:04.360 Yeah, Friday. 03:04.360 --> 03:05.360 I'm working nights. 03:05.360 --> 03:06.360 What kind of a job? 03:06.360 --> 03:09.360 Laborer in a warehouse south end of town. 03:09.360 --> 03:10.360 Good. 03:10.360 --> 03:11.840 You decided to level? 03:11.840 --> 03:14.040 Ten years in prison's a long time. 03:14.040 --> 03:15.040 You learn a lot of things. 03:15.040 --> 03:16.040 Nights are long. 03:16.040 --> 03:17.040 You think a lot. 03:17.040 --> 03:18.720 You get things straightened out. 03:18.720 --> 03:19.720 I hope you mean that. 03:19.720 --> 03:21.720 Sure I mean it, Friday. 03:21.720 --> 03:23.040 I've got everything straightened out. 03:23.040 --> 03:26.840 I know who my friends are and I know who to watch out for. 03:26.840 --> 03:28.960 You sound like maybe on the right track. 03:28.960 --> 03:30.560 I got a figured room, Harold. 03:30.560 --> 03:32.440 I like you two fellas. 03:32.440 --> 03:35.240 You caught me red-handed and you send me up for ten years. 03:35.240 --> 03:37.040 Well, you did all right, Savage. 03:37.040 --> 03:38.040 Five armed robberies. 03:38.040 --> 03:39.160 You got off pretty easy. 03:39.160 --> 03:40.720 You got a break, Savage. 03:40.720 --> 03:41.720 Make the best of it. 03:41.720 --> 03:42.720 Sure, I'm not kicking. 03:42.720 --> 03:45.040 Ten years, a real break. 03:45.040 --> 03:46.040 That's right. 03:46.040 --> 03:50.880 Well, I just dropped in for a little visit. 03:50.880 --> 03:53.440 Maybe I'll see you fellas sometime. 03:53.440 --> 03:55.240 All right, Savage. 03:55.240 --> 03:56.240 Keep your nose clean. 03:56.240 --> 03:57.240 Sure. 03:57.240 --> 03:59.240 No heart feelings? 03:59.240 --> 04:00.240 No. 04:00.240 --> 04:02.760 You just took ten years of my life. 04:02.760 --> 04:04.680 That's all. 04:04.680 --> 04:09.680 There's no such thing as a man going through prison without changing. 04:09.680 --> 04:12.280 Ben and I have seen him switch in both directions. 04:12.280 --> 04:15.280 Some men learn their lesson after they land behind bars, and when they're released, they 04:15.280 --> 04:16.960 turn into good citizens. 04:16.960 --> 04:18.960 Johnny Savage was sour. 04:18.960 --> 04:22.400 We made a mental note to check him out later on, and then we went down to the record bureau 04:22.400 --> 04:23.960 and pulled his coming out mug. 04:23.960 --> 04:29.520 That's about all that we had time for, because about an hour later, we started to get busy. 04:29.520 --> 04:30.520 Hot shot, Joe. 04:30.520 --> 04:31.520 Grab it. 04:31.520 --> 04:34.360 On the corner of Selma and Naples, the drug store. 04:34.360 --> 04:36.520 Two-eleven and probable attack. 04:36.520 --> 04:40.320 On the corner of Selma and Naples, two-eleven and prob... 04:40.320 --> 04:41.320 What you got, Joe? 04:41.320 --> 04:42.320 On the corner of Selma and Naples, two-eleven and attack. 04:42.320 --> 04:43.320 Come on. 04:43.320 --> 04:44.320 Here we are, Joe. 04:44.320 --> 04:45.320 Don't play on the corner. 04:45.320 --> 04:46.320 Yeah. 04:46.320 --> 04:47.320 All right. 04:47.320 --> 04:48.320 Come on. 04:48.320 --> 05:04.440 We got the story from the victim, the store owner, Mr. Thomas. 05:04.440 --> 05:07.760 For the most part, it was the usual rundown of an early morning holdup. 05:07.760 --> 05:08.760 There was only one exception. 05:08.760 --> 05:12.880 Oh, I've had young hoodlums try to hold me up before, but there was nothing like this 05:12.880 --> 05:13.880 one. 05:13.880 --> 05:14.880 How you mean, Mr. Thomas? 05:14.880 --> 05:18.200 Well, he came in here just before closing, and ordinarily I'd have kept an eye out, because 05:18.200 --> 05:19.760 that's the time to look for him. 05:19.760 --> 05:22.840 But this fellow came to the door and said he was a policeman, so I let him in. 05:22.840 --> 05:23.840 He looked like a cop. 05:23.840 --> 05:27.600 Boy, it's right up to me and the wife behind the counter and pointed a gun. 05:27.600 --> 05:30.640 And she screamed, and he hit her in the face with the butt of the gun. 05:30.640 --> 05:32.880 Sergeant, it was horrible. 05:32.880 --> 05:36.280 That's the way it started, and that's the way it kept going, because most of the victims 05:36.280 --> 05:40.360 and most people don't realize that as a citizen, they have the right to check on police officer's 05:40.360 --> 05:45.480 identification when in doubt. 05:45.480 --> 05:48.480 After we got the story from Mr. Thomas and checked the store in the neighborhood, Ben 05:48.480 --> 05:50.480 and I headed back for the office. 05:50.480 --> 05:57.480 Attention, all units, at the end of North Baxter Road near Hillcrest, victim of 211 and slugging. 05:57.480 --> 06:01.480 Car 71-72, take the call, code 3. 06:01.480 --> 06:03.080 Attention, all units, at the end of North Baxter Road. 06:03.080 --> 06:04.080 That's four blocks away from the last one. 06:04.080 --> 06:05.080 Let's roll on it, huh, Ben? 06:05.080 --> 06:08.080 Right, I'll hit the siren, you get the last. 06:08.080 --> 06:15.080 By the time Ben and I got up to the end of North Baxter, the men from Car 71 were already 06:15.080 --> 06:16.080 there. 06:16.080 --> 06:17.080 The victim was telling his story. 06:17.080 --> 06:18.560 His face looked like it had been through a meat grinder. 06:18.560 --> 06:22.280 We were just shifting the car into second to make the hill when I hear this siren behind 06:22.280 --> 06:25.680 me and I see this red light flashing in the side view mirror. 06:25.680 --> 06:29.920 Well, naturally, I pulled over to the curb and I was just reaching for my driver's license 06:29.920 --> 06:34.160 when the cop runs up, yanks me out of the car and starts clubbing me in the face with 06:34.160 --> 06:35.160 the butt of his gun. 06:35.160 --> 06:36.160 Did you get a look at him? 06:36.160 --> 06:37.160 Think you can describe him? 06:37.160 --> 06:38.160 No, I'm afraid not. 06:38.160 --> 06:42.400 He swung me around and kept me staring into that red light on his car all the time he 06:42.400 --> 06:43.400 was beating me. 06:43.400 --> 06:46.880 After a while, everything just went black. 06:46.880 --> 06:49.120 When I woke up, my wallet was gone, all my money's... 06:49.120 --> 06:53.400 45 minutes later, Ben and I were interviewing the third victim, a young housewife out in 06:53.400 --> 06:54.400 the Wilshire district. 06:54.400 --> 06:55.400 Same trademark. 06:55.400 --> 06:56.400 I tried to tell him, Sergeant. 06:56.400 --> 06:57.400 I tried to tell him I didn't have any money, but he wouldn't listen. 06:57.400 --> 06:58.400 He kept holding me. 06:58.400 --> 06:59.400 He kept holding me. 06:59.400 --> 07:00.400 He kept holding me. 07:00.400 --> 07:01.400 He kept holding me. 07:01.400 --> 07:02.400 He kept holding me. 07:02.400 --> 07:03.400 He kept holding me. 07:03.400 --> 07:04.400 He kept holding me by the throat and beating me with his fist like he enjoyed it. 07:04.400 --> 07:05.400 Beating me. 07:05.400 --> 07:06.400 Beating me. 07:06.400 --> 07:07.400 Yeah, all right, all right, Mrs. Jamison. 07:07.400 --> 07:08.400 Could you tell us how he got in the house? 07:08.400 --> 07:09.400 He came in the front door and rang the bell. 07:09.400 --> 07:10.400 I opened the door, but I left the burglar chain on. 07:10.400 --> 07:11.400 He said he was a policeman. 07:11.400 --> 07:12.400 So when he demanded I open the door all the way, I did. 07:12.400 --> 07:13.400 And he grabbed me. 07:13.400 --> 07:14.400 And you can't describe the man-forced, Mrs. Jamison. 07:14.400 --> 07:15.400 He was a man-forced. 07:15.400 --> 07:16.400 He was a man-forced. 07:16.400 --> 07:17.400 He was a man-forced. 07:17.400 --> 07:18.400 He was a man-forced. 07:18.400 --> 07:19.400 He was a man-forced. 07:19.400 --> 07:20.400 He was a man-forced. 07:20.400 --> 07:21.400 He was a man-forced. 07:21.400 --> 07:22.400 He was a man-forced. 07:22.400 --> 07:33.400 He was a man-forced. 07:33.400 --> 07:42.400 He was a man-forced. 07:42.400 --> 07:52.400 He was a man-forced. 07:52.400 --> 07:53.400 He was a man-forced. 07:53.400 --> 07:54.400 He was a man-forced. 07:54.400 --> 07:55.400 He was a man-forced. 07:55.400 --> 07:56.400 He was a man-forced. 07:56.400 --> 07:57.400 He was a man-forced. 07:57.400 --> 07:58.400 It was like a nightmare. 07:58.400 --> 07:59.400 It was like a nightmare. 07:59.400 --> 08:00.400 Tall, dark hair, big hands. 08:00.400 --> 08:01.400 Your guess is the same as mine, Joe. 08:01.400 --> 08:02.400 Maybe. 08:02.400 --> 08:03.400 Let's wait and see. 08:03.400 --> 08:04.400 Come on. 08:04.400 --> 08:05.400 Let's check with the boss. 08:05.400 --> 08:06.400 Hi, Mike. 08:06.400 --> 08:07.400 Hi. 08:07.400 --> 08:08.400 He's waiting for you in there. 08:08.400 --> 08:09.400 Come on, Ben. 08:09.400 --> 08:10.400 He's with the Detectives, always. 08:10.400 --> 08:11.400 Hannan. 08:11.400 --> 08:12.400 You two, let's have it. 08:12.400 --> 08:13.400 The guy with the red light? 08:13.400 --> 08:15.400 Yes, the guy with the red light posing as a policeman. 08:15.400 --> 08:16.400 Why hasn't he been picked up? 08:16.400 --> 08:18.400 You know as much about it as we do, Ed. 08:18.400 --> 08:19.400 We got our first call around midnight. 08:19.400 --> 08:21.400 He knocked over a drug store out on Selma. 08:21.400 --> 08:22.400 He hasn't stopped working since. 08:22.400 --> 08:23.400 Didn't you get any definite lead on him? 08:23.400 --> 08:25.400 No description, no license number? 08:25.400 --> 08:27.400 Nothing. He's tall, big hands, dark hair. That's all. 08:27.400 --> 08:28.400 Fine. 08:28.400 --> 08:30.400 Either of you got any ideas? 08:30.400 --> 08:32.400 Could be anybody, Skipper, with that description. 08:32.400 --> 08:34.400 You're sure it wasn't anybody on the force? 08:34.400 --> 08:36.400 We sent all the victims down to personnel. 08:36.400 --> 08:38.400 Lowry showed them the mugbook of all police officers. 08:38.400 --> 08:39.400 Wasn't one of our men. 08:39.400 --> 08:43.400 Works fast. Drug store motorist, a pedestrian, a housewife out in the Wilshire district. 08:43.400 --> 08:46.400 Went right in the house after her. Four of them, right in a row. 08:46.400 --> 08:47.400 Five. 08:47.400 --> 08:48.400 Huh? 08:48.400 --> 08:49.400 There's a 20-year-old kid in the next room. 08:49.400 --> 08:51.400 Came in just before you got here. 08:51.400 --> 08:55.400 Couple of hours ago he was sitting in a car with his girl up in Mulholland Drive. 08:55.400 --> 08:59.400 This red light bandit comes along, slugs him and kidnaps the girl. 08:59.400 --> 09:00.400 Kidnaps? He still missing? 09:00.400 --> 09:01.400 Not a trace. 09:01.400 --> 09:02.400 When did this happen? 09:02.400 --> 09:04.400 Couple of hours ago. They brought the kid over from Georgia Street Hospital. 09:04.400 --> 09:06.400 We can talk to him now. 09:06.400 --> 09:07.400 He's had a bad time. 09:07.400 --> 09:08.400 Right in here. 09:08.400 --> 09:10.400 Okay. 09:10.400 --> 09:14.400 Pete, we're going to have to ask you a few more questions. 09:14.400 --> 09:16.400 Oh, yeah. Okay. 09:16.400 --> 09:18.400 It feels a little better now. 09:18.400 --> 09:20.400 This is Sergeant Friday and Sergeant Romero. 09:20.400 --> 09:21.400 Hi, Pete. 09:21.400 --> 09:22.400 Hi. 09:22.400 --> 09:24.400 Can you tell us what time the trouble started? 09:24.400 --> 09:27.400 Oh, about 10.15, 10.30. 09:27.400 --> 09:32.400 Sally and I were sitting in the car talking about wherever we're going on our honeymoon. 09:32.400 --> 09:35.400 We're going to be married next month. 09:35.400 --> 09:40.400 And then this car pulls up behind us and starts flashing a red spotlight on us. 09:40.400 --> 09:43.400 A guy runs over and pulls open the door. He said he was a cop. 09:43.400 --> 09:45.400 Did you get a good look at his car, Pete? 09:45.400 --> 09:47.400 I think it was a black sedan. 09:47.400 --> 09:49.400 Did you get a look at the man, Pete? 09:49.400 --> 09:51.400 No. No, I didn't. 09:51.400 --> 09:56.400 It was pretty dark and he kept me staring into that red spotlight. 09:56.400 --> 09:59.400 It all happened so fast. Then he started slugging me and I went down. 09:59.400 --> 10:00.400 What happened then? 10:00.400 --> 10:03.400 Well, the next thing I knew Sally was screaming. 10:03.400 --> 10:07.400 He had one hand on her throat and he had her backed up against the side of the car. 10:07.400 --> 10:09.400 He was beating her with the other hand. 10:09.400 --> 10:11.400 Some kind of a short billy club. 10:11.400 --> 10:14.400 I got up and I started for him and he slugged me again. 10:14.400 --> 10:16.400 When I came to, Sally was gone. 10:16.400 --> 10:18.400 Anybody check the area up there, Ed? 10:18.400 --> 10:20.400 Yeah, Davis and Griffin. Didn't find a thing. 10:20.400 --> 10:23.400 Oh, Sergeant, you've got to find it. You've got to. 10:23.400 --> 10:27.400 I wouldn't know what to tell her folks. I wouldn't know what to say. 10:27.400 --> 10:30.400 That's all right, Pete. We'll find her. You take it easy. 10:30.400 --> 10:33.400 Got a hot shot, Ed, up in Summit Road near Westmore. 10:33.400 --> 10:36.400 A woman, unconscious, ambulance follow-up, possible dead body. 10:36.400 --> 10:39.400 All right, Hannon, look after Pete here. 10:39.400 --> 10:41.400 Frady, Romero, let's go. 10:44.400 --> 10:46.400 Up ahead, Romero, to the right. 10:46.400 --> 10:47.400 Okay, Skipper. 10:47.400 --> 10:50.400 Yeah, there's the ambulance and the cruiser car. 10:50.400 --> 10:52.400 You're a lonely-looking spot. 10:53.400 --> 10:55.400 All right, come on. 10:56.400 --> 10:58.400 Hiya, Doc. What'd you find? 10:58.400 --> 11:00.400 Hiya, fellas. Right over here. 11:00.400 --> 11:02.400 Just gonna take her in. 11:02.400 --> 11:04.400 Oh, where'd you find her? 11:04.400 --> 11:06.400 Over there by the side of the road. 11:06.400 --> 11:08.400 Somebody driving by us, sorry. They called us. 11:08.400 --> 11:09.400 Any identification? 11:09.400 --> 11:11.400 This bracelet on her wrist. 11:11.400 --> 11:16.400 Hmm, to my dearest Sally from Pete, December 25th, 1947. 11:16.400 --> 11:18.400 That's a girl, all right. What are the chances, Doc? 11:18.400 --> 11:21.400 I wouldn't bet on them. Pretty bad shape. 11:21.400 --> 11:23.400 All of you seen enough? 11:23.400 --> 11:27.400 Yeah. Frady, Romero, call the crime lab and check the area for footprints and tire tracks. 11:27.400 --> 11:29.400 I'll ride back in the ambulance with the girl. 11:29.400 --> 11:32.400 If she regains consciousness, I want to talk to her. All right? 11:32.400 --> 11:33.400 Okay, Ed. 11:33.400 --> 11:35.400 I'll meet you in the office by 8.30. 11:35.400 --> 11:37.400 We're working straight through till we get this guy. 11:37.400 --> 11:39.400 See you at the office, Skipper. 11:39.400 --> 11:41.400 What time you got, Ben? 11:41.400 --> 11:44.400 Seven minutes to four. Long night. 11:44.400 --> 11:47.400 That car up there ahead, let's take a look at it, huh? 11:47.400 --> 11:49.400 Black sedan. 11:49.400 --> 11:51.400 Hey, look, he's flashing a red spot on that convertible. 11:51.400 --> 11:52.400 Come on. 11:52.400 --> 11:54.400 I'll take a look. 11:54.400 --> 11:56.400 I'll take a look. 11:56.400 --> 11:58.400 I'll take a look. 11:58.400 --> 12:00.400 I'll take a look. 12:00.400 --> 12:02.400 I'll take a look. 12:02.400 --> 12:04.400 I'll take a look. 12:04.400 --> 12:06.400 I'll take a look. 12:06.400 --> 12:08.400 I'll take a look. 12:08.400 --> 12:11.400 I'll take a look. 12:14.400 --> 12:15.400 He sees us, Joe. 12:15.400 --> 12:16.400 He's pulling away. 12:16.400 --> 12:17.400 Get that gas pedal down to the floor. 12:17.400 --> 12:19.400 Already there. He's turning off right. 12:19.400 --> 12:21.400 Hit the siren. I'll get the light. 12:22.400 --> 12:25.400 We're gaining a little, Ben. Next corner to the left. 12:26.400 --> 12:27.400 Joe, where'd he go? 12:27.400 --> 12:30.400 It's a fancy driver. Try the alley up ahead, to the left, here. 12:31.400 --> 12:32.400 Must've turned up that cross street. 12:32.400 --> 12:33.400 He gets through the alley and double back on him. 12:35.400 --> 12:37.400 There he is, Ben, look out. 12:37.400 --> 12:39.400 He's gonna ram us! 12:46.400 --> 12:48.400 We got hit just in front of the rear bumper. 12:48.400 --> 12:50.400 Our car was forced into the curbing and it turned over. 12:50.400 --> 12:52.400 He was real lucky. He kept right on going. 12:52.400 --> 12:54.400 But this time Ben and I were sharing the luck. 12:54.400 --> 12:57.400 All we got out of it was a couple of nasty cracks in the head and a few bruises, 12:57.400 --> 13:00.400 but it was enough to keep us in a hospital under observation for a day. 13:00.400 --> 13:04.400 By this time Ed Backstrand was fuming, so were the newspapers. 13:04.400 --> 13:08.400 During the day we spent in the hospital, a red light bandit went on a real blitz. 13:08.400 --> 13:13.400 He pulled six more jobs, one liquor store, two residential holdups and three car robberies. 13:13.400 --> 13:16.400 Five of the six victims were slugged and beaten. 13:16.400 --> 13:18.400 Davis and Griffin had taken over for Ben and me, 13:18.400 --> 13:20.400 and by the time we got back on the job, they'd built up a lead for us. 13:20.400 --> 13:23.400 We've been working with Wilkerson up an auto theft job. 13:23.400 --> 13:27.400 He's used four stolen cars already. We got the makes and numbers on each one of them. 13:27.400 --> 13:29.400 How about the dark sedan he was driving when he rammed us? 13:29.400 --> 13:33.400 The boys picked it up this morning out on Sepulveda. We're checking it for prints now. 13:33.400 --> 13:35.400 That's fine, Dave. You got any description on the guy yet? 13:35.400 --> 13:37.400 No luck there, Joe. He works too fast. 13:37.400 --> 13:38.400 Nothing at all? 13:38.400 --> 13:43.400 Same as you had. Tall, black hair, big hands. Loves to use them. 13:43.400 --> 13:45.400 Friday, Romero, got a minute? 13:45.400 --> 13:47.400 Okay, Skipper. Check you later, honey. 13:47.400 --> 13:49.400 Sure thing, boys. 13:50.400 --> 13:52.400 Sit down. How do you feel? 13:52.400 --> 13:53.400 Pretty fair, Ed. 13:53.400 --> 13:54.400 Little stiff here and there. 13:54.400 --> 13:55.400 All right. Did Davis fill you in? 13:55.400 --> 13:56.400 Up to date. 13:56.400 --> 14:00.400 Okay. I just called the doctor who's handling Sally Wilder, Pete's girlfriend. You remember? 14:00.400 --> 14:01.400 Oh, yeah. 14:01.400 --> 14:04.400 She's been in pretty bad shape since we found her up there on Summit Road. 14:04.400 --> 14:06.400 This morning she took a turn for the better. 14:06.400 --> 14:09.400 She's conscious and her doctor thinks she might be able to talk to us a little bit. 14:09.400 --> 14:10.400 Good. When? 14:10.400 --> 14:13.400 About an hour. I cleared it with the doctor and with her family. 14:13.400 --> 14:16.400 You'll only be able to stay a couple of minutes to make the most of them. That's all. 14:16.400 --> 14:18.400 All right, Ed. We'll check with you later. 14:20.400 --> 14:24.400 Hey, Joe, Ben, here's some mail came for you fellas while you were gone. 14:24.400 --> 14:28.400 Oh, thank you, Mike. We're going over to the county hospital. We ought to be back in a couple of hours. 14:28.400 --> 14:31.400 Okay. Say, there's been a couple of phone calls too. 14:31.400 --> 14:32.400 Yeah. Anything important? 14:32.400 --> 14:36.400 I don't think so. The guy just called to say hello. Said his name was Johnny Savage. 14:36.400 --> 14:37.400 Just called to say hello. 14:41.400 --> 14:44.400 I presume you men are aware of the girl's critical condition? 14:44.400 --> 14:45.400 Yeah, that's right, Dr. Frohman. 14:45.400 --> 14:47.400 We saw her before she was taken here to the hospital. 14:47.400 --> 14:53.400 Ah, yes. You understand, of course, that you'll be able to see her for only a few minutes and please try your best not to excite her, huh? 14:53.400 --> 14:58.400 Right, doctor. 15:00.400 --> 15:07.400 Sally isn't able to talk. Bad mouth and face injuries. So your questions will have to be answered simply yes or no and nod of the head. 15:07.400 --> 15:12.400 Okay, we got you. We only have a few questions and we want to know if she can identify the man who beat her from these pictures we've got here. 15:12.400 --> 15:14.400 All right, Sergeant. This way, please. 15:14.400 --> 15:15.400 Thank you. 15:15.400 --> 15:25.400 Sally. Sally, these gentlemen are from the police department. They'd like to ask you a few questions. 15:25.400 --> 15:30.400 Now, there's no need to be nervous or afraid. Just simply nod your head yes or no. 15:30.400 --> 15:34.400 That's fine. All right, Sergeant. 15:34.400 --> 15:38.400 Sally, did you see the man who attacked you? 15:38.400 --> 15:40.400 Yes. She says yes. 15:40.400 --> 15:42.400 Did you get a good look at his face? 15:42.400 --> 15:47.400 You did. All right, Sally. Now you can answer these three together. Just yes or no. 15:47.400 --> 15:51.400 Was he tall? Did he have dark hair? Did he have large hands? 15:51.400 --> 15:53.400 He did. Ben. 15:53.400 --> 15:54.400 All right. Yeah, Jim. 15:54.400 --> 15:55.400 Hand me the folder. 15:55.400 --> 15:56.400 Here you go. 15:56.400 --> 15:57.400 Thanks. 15:57.400 --> 16:00.400 Now, just one more thing, Sally. I'm going to show you some pictures now. 16:00.400 --> 16:03.400 Take all the time you want before you make up your mind about each one. 16:03.400 --> 16:07.400 If you recognize any one of these men as the person who attacked you, just nod your head. All right? 16:07.400 --> 16:10.400 All right, that's fine. Good. Here's the first one. 16:10.400 --> 16:13.400 No? All right. Here's the next one. 16:13.400 --> 16:15.400 No. 16:15.400 --> 16:17.400 How about this one? 16:17.400 --> 16:20.400 No? All right. Here's another. 16:20.400 --> 16:22.400 Do you recognize him? 16:22.400 --> 16:25.400 This was the man? Are you sure, Sally? 16:25.400 --> 16:29.400 Thank you. That's all. Let's go. 16:29.400 --> 16:32.400 Did you find what you wanted, Sergeant? 16:32.400 --> 16:33.400 Yes, Doctor, we did. 16:33.400 --> 16:36.400 Here. It's this one. 16:36.400 --> 16:39.400 Nice looking chap. Who is he, Sergeant? 16:39.400 --> 16:42.400 His name's Savage, Doctor Frohman. Johnny Savage. 16:45.400 --> 16:48.400 When we got back to the office, we checked in with Ed Backstrand. 16:48.400 --> 16:57.400 In five minutes, an all-points bulletin and a full description of the suspect was broadcast to every radio car, every motorcycle officer, to every sheriff and law enforcement agency in Los Angeles and Southern California. 16:57.400 --> 17:01.400 By nightfall, the manhunt was on. 17:01.400 --> 17:04.400 More than a dozen extra patrol units were called in for duty that night. 17:04.400 --> 17:10.400 And when they pulled out of the police garage, the name, the picture, and the full description of Johnny Savage was in the possession of every officer. 17:10.400 --> 17:15.400 The same for the patrolmen. Whether they walked a beat downtown or out in the residential areas, the picture of Johnny Savage went with them. 17:15.400 --> 17:18.400 Everything was done that could be done. 17:18.400 --> 17:25.400 On the second night of the manhunt, far out on the edge of town, Johnny Savage, the red light bandit, got his 12th victim, a 63-year-old storekeeper. 17:25.400 --> 17:30.400 Attention all units. 939 Markham Street, near Clark. 17:30.400 --> 17:37.400 2-11 and slugging, code 3, ambulance dispatched. All units, 939 Markham Street, near Clark. 17:43.400 --> 17:45.400 Here it is, skipper. Tie in. 17:45.400 --> 17:47.400 What'd you get? 17:47.400 --> 17:50.400 Wilkinson lifted the prints off that black sedan that rammed you and me. 17:50.400 --> 17:51.400 Yeah? 17:51.400 --> 17:52.400 They belonged to Johnny Savage. 17:52.400 --> 17:53.400 Yeah, good. 17:53.400 --> 17:57.400 That storekeeper last night, it was Savage, all right. Victim identified him from his mug. 17:57.400 --> 18:01.400 They got enough in this Savage guy to put him on ice for life. All we have to do now is to get him. 18:01.400 --> 18:08.400 Now look, the way we figure it, Ed, this red light bandit is using stolen cars with cold plates, so there's no way of tracking down the cars at regular commercial garages. 18:08.400 --> 18:10.400 He's got to be running private garages someplace around town. 18:10.400 --> 18:14.400 All right, let's get the neighborhood patrolmen on the job. Advertise it. All over town. 18:14.400 --> 18:20.400 It's a city ordinance, isn't it? People who rent private garages are bound by law to register the car and license number with the police. 18:20.400 --> 18:23.400 Start a campaign if you want, but find those cars. 18:23.400 --> 18:24.400 Right. 18:24.400 --> 18:32.400 All right, wait a minute. Hello, backstrand. Yeah? When? I see. Yeah, thanks. 18:32.400 --> 18:34.400 What is it, Ed? 18:34.400 --> 18:36.400 It was the hospital about the girl, Sally. 18:36.400 --> 18:38.400 Sally Wilder? What about? 18:38.400 --> 18:41.400 She died five minutes ago. 18:44.400 --> 18:51.400 That night everybody went back on the job as usual. The cruiser cars, the patrolmen, the motorcycle officers, and about a dozen decoy cars. 18:51.400 --> 18:56.400 We were armed police women riding alone in cars or parked in lonely spots with a police officer escort. 18:56.400 --> 19:01.400 Our car, 80K, was still in the garage for repairs, so they assigned us another one. 19:01.400 --> 19:04.400 And we started to make the rounds. Everything was usual. 19:04.400 --> 19:10.400 Except one thing. We weren't tracking down just a thief anymore or a sadist who liked to beat people's faces in. We were out to get a murderer. 19:13.400 --> 19:16.400 It was a perfect night for the suspect. Dark, no moon. 19:16.400 --> 19:20.400 I gave Ben two to one odds and I put up five dollars that we'd get Savage that night. 19:20.400 --> 19:25.400 I lost the five dollars. We cruised until seven the next morning, but there wasn't even a nibble. 19:25.400 --> 19:33.400 We had breakfast at the Federal Cafe, a little restaurant down the street from the city hall, and it was about 8.15 when we got back to the office. We were pretty tired. 19:34.400 --> 19:36.400 Robert D.T., I'm Romero. 19:36.400 --> 19:38.400 I would like to speak to Sergeant Friday. 19:38.400 --> 19:40.400 Just a minute. It's for you, Joe. 19:40.400 --> 19:42.400 Okay, thanks. Friday talking. 19:42.400 --> 19:44.400 Sergeant Friday, I want to talk to you. 19:44.400 --> 19:45.400 Well, I'm listening. Go ahead. 19:45.400 --> 19:48.400 I mean, I want to talk to you in person as soon as possible. 19:48.400 --> 19:50.400 Can't you tell me over the phone? What is it? 19:50.400 --> 19:53.400 I cannot tell you over the phone. It is very important. Can you come now? 19:53.400 --> 19:56.400 Well, now look, mister, I'm awful sorry, but we're very busy down... 19:56.400 --> 19:58.400 554 Ramona Avenue. Can you come now? 19:58.400 --> 20:00.400 What's this all about? Who is this speaking? 20:00.400 --> 20:05.400 My name is Carl Savage. My son's name is John. 20:12.400 --> 20:13.400 Here it is, Joe. 20:14.400 --> 20:15.400 Neat looking little place. 20:15.400 --> 20:18.400 Yeah. 20:26.400 --> 20:27.400 Yeah? 20:27.400 --> 20:28.400 I'm Sergeant Friday. You Mr. Savage? 20:28.400 --> 20:29.400 Yeah, come in. 20:29.400 --> 20:32.400 Okay. This is my partner, Sergeant Romero. 20:32.400 --> 20:36.400 How do you do? I will be brief, gentlemen. I am the father of John Savage. 20:36.400 --> 20:38.400 I wish for you to catch him. I will help you. 20:38.400 --> 20:41.400 I noticed the name on the mailbox outside, Mr. Savage. 20:41.400 --> 20:42.400 You changed your name lately? 20:42.400 --> 20:46.400 I changed my name ten years ago when John first got into trouble. 20:46.400 --> 20:52.400 My own name I had to change. The shame. Always from him, my son. Shame. 20:52.400 --> 20:55.400 Mr. Savage, has your son been home since he got out of prison? 20:55.400 --> 20:59.400 Yeah, many times. To ask for money. I would not give him any, so he stuck me. 20:59.400 --> 21:05.400 Last night I read in the newspaper the little girl he beat up. She is dead. 21:05.400 --> 21:09.400 Then I make up my mind. 21:09.400 --> 21:11.400 Do you know where your son is now, Mr. Savage? 21:11.400 --> 21:15.400 Not now, no. But our garage has a car in there. It is not his, I know. 21:15.400 --> 21:21.400 Also in the garage I find many license plates. I find spotlights with red glass lens. 21:21.400 --> 21:23.400 But you don't have any idea where we could find him. 21:23.400 --> 21:27.400 No, but he will come back. He always comes back for money. 21:27.400 --> 21:29.400 We're going to station an officer here in the house, Mr. Savage. 21:29.400 --> 21:37.400 Anything you want, if it will catch him. He's bad, Sergeant. Like something poison. All true, he's bad. 21:37.400 --> 21:41.400 See a sewing basket over there, Mr. Savage? Does your wife live here with you? 21:41.400 --> 21:50.400 Ten days ago, before this starts, I buried Gertrude, my wife, his mother. 21:50.400 --> 21:57.400 Sergeant, for ten years she is sick, but for ten years she stays alive to see him from prison. 21:57.400 --> 22:04.400 Ten days ago, she died. He did not even come to the funeral. 22:04.400 --> 22:06.400 Does your son have any idea that you might call us? 22:06.400 --> 22:12.400 No, no, I don't think so. But when you catch him, give me a gun. 22:12.400 --> 22:17.400 With my own two hands, I will kill him, Johnny Savage. 22:17.400 --> 22:24.400 Before we left, we called Ed Backstrand and we brought him up to date. 22:24.400 --> 22:28.400 He sent three detectives out to relieve us, Davis, Griffin, and Marsh. 22:28.400 --> 22:31.400 We told them to keep an eye on the house and the stolen car in the garage. 22:31.400 --> 22:35.400 That night after dinner, Ed Backstrand, Ben and I went out and relieved them. 22:35.400 --> 22:39.400 We parked the cruiser car in the garage next door, and then we took up our posts. 22:39.400 --> 22:43.400 Carl Savage had a light supper, and then he went to bed about nine. 22:43.400 --> 22:46.400 The three of us sat at the front windows in the darkened house and we waited. 22:46.400 --> 22:53.400 Ben kept his eye on the garage. Outside, across the city, the manhunt continued as usual. 22:53.400 --> 22:56.400 Three hours went by. The waiting got monotonous. 22:56.400 --> 22:58.400 Friday, Romero, look alive, will you? 22:58.400 --> 23:01.400 Oh, yes, Caperman, sorry. 23:01.400 --> 23:03.400 That clock's enough to put anybody to sleep. 23:03.400 --> 23:05.400 What time you got? 23:05.400 --> 23:06.400 12.23 a.m. 23:06.400 --> 23:09.400 Thanks. 23:09.400 --> 23:15.400 The clock kept ticking. We were tired. We took turns keeping each other awake. 23:15.400 --> 23:21.400 At ten minutes past two, I looked at my watch, and then I settled back and tried to find some kind of a comfortable position. 23:21.400 --> 23:25.400 They started so faintly, it was just like the ticking of the clock. Same rhythm. 23:25.400 --> 23:29.400 And then they came closer and the sounds got out of rhythm. 23:29.400 --> 23:31.400 Backstrand's head came up with a snap. 23:31.400 --> 23:33.400 Friday. Romero, you hear that? 23:33.400 --> 23:34.400 Yeah, Ed. 23:34.400 --> 23:37.400 Get up to the window once the curtains. You see anything? 23:37.400 --> 23:39.400 Yeah. Yeah, somebody's coming. 23:39.400 --> 23:40.400 Savage? 23:40.400 --> 23:45.400 Can't tell. Wait a minute, he's slowing down. 23:45.400 --> 23:51.400 He's going up the driveway to the garage. He's going inside. 23:51.400 --> 23:52.400 That's him. 23:52.400 --> 23:56.400 Come on. 23:56.400 --> 23:58.400 Watch it, he spotted us. 23:58.400 --> 24:02.400 He went over that fence, into the yard. 24:02.400 --> 24:04.400 There he is, Friday. 24:04.400 --> 24:05.400 He hit him, Joe. 24:05.400 --> 24:06.400 Maybe. 24:06.400 --> 24:08.400 He's going for the street. 24:08.400 --> 24:10.400 He's headed for that car, Ed, that sedan up on the corner there. 24:10.400 --> 24:11.400 Romero, go back and get the car. 24:11.400 --> 24:18.400 Right, skipper. 24:18.400 --> 24:20.400 Must have parked at the block before he came around. Where's Romero? 24:20.400 --> 24:24.400 I don't know. Oh, here he comes now. 24:24.400 --> 24:26.400 All right, let's go. 24:26.400 --> 24:27.400 Get that radio on, Joe. 24:27.400 --> 24:28.400 It's already on, Ed. 24:28.400 --> 24:30.400 All right, give him a call. Any sign yet? 24:30.400 --> 24:34.400 No, nothing so far. Next corner to the right, Ben. 24:34.400 --> 24:37.400 Unit 80K to Control 4. 80K to Control 4. 24:37.400 --> 24:39.400 Control 4 to Unit 80K, go ahead. 24:39.400 --> 24:42.400 Clear and keep Frequency 4 open. This is an emergency. 24:42.400 --> 24:46.400 80K, Roger. Frequency 4, open and clear. 24:46.400 --> 24:51.400 Attention all units on Frequency 4, stand by. 80K, go ahead. 24:51.400 --> 24:54.400 Yeah, there he is, Friday. Up ahead, dark blue sedan. 24:54.400 --> 24:57.400 Control 4, we are in pursuit of the possible red light bandit. 24:57.400 --> 25:00.400 Suspect is driving a dark blue 1949 sedan. 25:00.400 --> 25:02.400 License number in the 7 column. 25:02.400 --> 25:06.400 6-1, Robert, 7-8-4. Use caution. Suspect is armed. 25:06.400 --> 25:07.400 Code 3. 25:07.400 --> 25:10.400 Attention all units. Attention all units. 25:10.400 --> 25:13.400 Unit 80K now pursuing possible red light bandit. 25:13.400 --> 25:17.400 Suspect is driving a dark blue 1949 sedan. 25:17.400 --> 25:19.400 License number in the 7 column. 25:19.400 --> 25:22.400 6-1, Robert, 7-8-4. 25:22.400 --> 25:25.400 Use caution. Suspect is armed. Code 3. 25:25.400 --> 25:26.400 Your location, 80K. 25:26.400 --> 25:30.400 Control 4, we are headed east on Wilshire Boulevard, crossing La Brea. 25:30.400 --> 25:35.400 Attention all units. Suspect is headed east on Wilshire Boulevard, crossing La Brea. 25:35.400 --> 25:36.400 Watch it, Romero. Don't lose him. 25:36.400 --> 25:37.400 I see him, Skipper. 25:37.400 --> 25:40.400 Control 4, still pursuing red light bandit. 25:40.400 --> 25:43.400 Headed east on Wilshire, now crossing Rossmoor. 25:43.400 --> 25:48.400 Attention all units. Suspect is still headed east on Wilshire, now crossing Rossmoor. 25:48.400 --> 25:51.400 Suspect is armed. Use caution. Code 3. 25:51.400 --> 25:52.400 That truck pulling out of the head. 25:52.400 --> 25:54.400 Get to the siren, will you, Skipper? 25:54.400 --> 25:55.400 Yeah. 25:55.400 --> 25:58.400 All right, hold on to the taxi, please. 25:58.400 --> 26:02.400 He's not on, Romero. A lot of traffic up ahead. He's got to slow down. 26:02.400 --> 26:06.400 Control 4. Suspect headed east on Wilshire, crossing Western Avenue, closing in. 26:06.400 --> 26:07.400 Attention all units. 26:07.400 --> 26:10.400 There he goes. He'll go right down Sherman Alley. It's a dead end. 26:10.400 --> 26:11.400 Yeah. 26:11.400 --> 26:16.400 Control 4. Suspect turned south into Sherman Alley, closing in on Suspect. 26:16.400 --> 26:20.400 Attention all units. Suspect has turned south into Sherman Alley. 26:20.400 --> 26:23.400 Suspect is trapped in the urge on Sherman Alley. 26:23.400 --> 26:26.400 There he is, Skipper. Pulling up ahead. He's jumping out. 26:26.400 --> 26:29.400 All right, take the mike. What do you have here? Come on, Ben. 26:29.400 --> 26:32.400 I'll direct the other cars in. If you need help, holler. 26:32.400 --> 26:33.400 All right, Skipper. 26:33.400 --> 26:35.400 All right, which way to go, Ben? 26:35.400 --> 26:36.400 Down the front of the building. 26:36.400 --> 26:37.400 Come on. 26:37.400 --> 26:38.400 Starting up the back fire escape. 26:38.400 --> 26:40.400 All right, keep him busy. 26:40.400 --> 26:43.400 All right, Savage, come on down. 26:43.400 --> 26:45.400 He wants to go to the roof. 26:45.400 --> 26:47.400 One more chance, Savage. Come on down. 26:47.400 --> 26:50.400 No use, Joe. He's heading up for the roof. Come on. 26:51.400 --> 26:53.400 He climbs like a monkey. Come on, let's get him. 26:53.400 --> 26:54.400 Come on. 26:54.400 --> 26:56.400 All right, here, I'll give you a hand. 26:56.400 --> 26:57.400 Here's the roof. 26:57.400 --> 26:58.400 Where'd he go? 26:58.400 --> 27:00.400 I don't know. Let's spread out. 27:00.400 --> 27:02.400 All right, Savage, you're through. 27:02.400 --> 27:04.400 Throw your gun out. Come on, with your hands up. 27:04.400 --> 27:06.400 Watch it, Joe. He's running for the edge. He's gonna jump. 27:06.400 --> 27:07.400 I'll get him. 27:07.400 --> 27:08.400 All right. 27:08.400 --> 27:09.400 Guy back here. 27:09.400 --> 27:12.400 You lousy copper, you dirty lousy cop. 27:12.400 --> 27:13.400 I'll kill you. 27:13.400 --> 27:17.400 You're through, Savage. You're through. 27:21.400 --> 27:23.400 Good, Joe. 27:23.400 --> 27:25.400 Yeah. 27:25.400 --> 27:27.400 Throw the cups out, will you? 27:27.400 --> 27:30.400 You just betcha. 27:36.400 --> 27:38.400 You want a smoke? 27:38.400 --> 27:39.400 Yeah, I can sure use a little. 27:39.400 --> 27:43.400 Thanks. 27:44.400 --> 27:47.400 Quiet up here. 27:47.400 --> 27:48.400 Yeah. 27:48.400 --> 27:50.400 I was just thinking. 27:50.400 --> 27:52.400 Yeah? 27:52.400 --> 27:54.400 Carl Savage, this guy's father. 27:54.400 --> 27:56.400 Mm-hmm. 27:56.400 --> 27:58.400 What about him? 27:58.400 --> 28:00.400 Nothing. 28:00.400 --> 28:09.400 What would you do, Ben, if your son was a murderer? 28:09.400 --> 28:12.400 The story you have just heard is true. 28:12.400 --> 28:16.400 Only the names were changed to protect the innocent. 28:16.400 --> 28:20.400 John Savage was tried and convicted of murder in the first degree. 28:20.400 --> 28:29.400 He was executed in the lethal gas chamber at the State Penitentiary. 28:29.400 --> 28:34.400 You have just heard the sixth in a new series of authentic cases from official files. 28:34.400 --> 28:40.400 Technical advice for Dragnet is furnished by the Los Angeles Police Department. 28:40.400 --> 28:49.400 Tonight's program is dedicated to Patrol Officer Robert Steele of the Montana State Highway Patrol, 28:49.400 --> 29:10.400 who on the morning of November 2, 1947, gave his life so that yours might be more secure. 29:10.400 --> 29:21.400 Dragnet came to you from Los Angeles. 29:21.400 --> 29:41.400 This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.