WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:11.560 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. 00:11.560 --> 00:14.200 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:14.200 --> 00:15.200 Dragnet. 00:15.200 --> 00:25.400 You're a detective sergeant. 00:25.400 --> 00:27.040 You're assigned a juvenile detail. 00:27.040 --> 00:31.800 A narcotic ring has been supplying drugs to the teenagers in your city. 00:31.800 --> 00:35.120 There's no lead to the identity of the key people in the operation. 00:35.120 --> 00:38.720 Your job, find them. 00:38.720 --> 00:43.000 It was Monday, February 9th. 00:43.000 --> 00:44.280 It was cold in Los Angeles. 00:44.280 --> 00:46.960 We were working the day watch out of juvenile detail. 00:46.960 --> 00:47.960 My partner's Frank Smith. 00:47.960 --> 00:48.960 The boss is Captain Powers. 00:48.960 --> 00:49.960 My name's Friday. 00:49.960 --> 00:54.600 I was on my way into the office and it was 8.01 a.m. when I got to Georgia Street Juvenile. 00:54.600 --> 00:55.600 The squad room. 00:55.600 --> 00:57.320 How's it going? 00:57.320 --> 00:58.280 Hi, how are you? 00:58.280 --> 00:59.280 Hi, buddy. 00:59.280 --> 01:00.280 Been in long? 01:00.280 --> 01:01.280 Since about 7.30. 01:01.280 --> 01:02.280 How come? 01:02.280 --> 01:03.280 I couldn't sleep. 01:03.280 --> 01:04.280 What's the matter? 01:04.280 --> 01:05.280 Anything wrong? 01:05.280 --> 01:06.280 A family had a beef. 01:06.280 --> 01:07.280 One of the kids was sick. 01:07.280 --> 01:10.280 We were up with him most of the night. 01:10.280 --> 01:11.280 What's the matter? 01:11.280 --> 01:13.320 I took him over the rides yesterday. 01:13.320 --> 01:14.320 The rides? 01:14.320 --> 01:16.600 You know, the place over there without the merry-go-round. 01:16.600 --> 01:19.140 Got him carried away, I guess. 01:19.140 --> 01:20.760 He sure had a good time, though. 01:20.760 --> 01:25.160 Took in everything, roller coaster, airplanes, all works. 01:25.160 --> 01:27.760 She can't expect us to do it on an empty stomach. 01:27.760 --> 01:28.760 We had a little something beef. 01:28.760 --> 01:30.040 Guess maybe we overdid it. 01:30.040 --> 01:32.880 Anyway, the youngster got sick last night. 01:32.880 --> 01:34.480 Faye says I'm to blame. 01:34.480 --> 01:36.440 One thing led to something else and the beef was on. 01:36.440 --> 01:38.440 So you just got up and came into work, huh? 01:38.440 --> 01:39.440 Yeah. 01:39.440 --> 01:41.760 Stopped and had some breakfast, read the paper, come on in. 01:41.760 --> 01:42.760 How's the kid now? 01:42.760 --> 01:43.760 Okay, it was nothing serious. 01:43.760 --> 01:45.760 A little too much cotton candy, though. 01:45.760 --> 01:50.920 Faye's got a tendency to make too much of those things, but, you know, she always does. 01:50.920 --> 01:51.920 Yeah. 01:51.920 --> 01:52.920 Something we can do for you, young fella? 01:52.920 --> 01:53.920 I'd like to talk to somebody. 01:53.920 --> 01:56.920 All right, come on in. 01:56.920 --> 02:00.320 Maybe we can help you. 02:00.320 --> 02:01.320 You're a cop? 02:01.320 --> 02:02.320 That's right. 02:02.320 --> 02:03.320 Frank Smith, my name's Friday. 02:03.320 --> 02:04.320 Hi. 02:04.320 --> 02:05.320 Hello, son. 02:05.320 --> 02:06.320 What do you want to see us about? 02:06.320 --> 02:07.320 Kind of private. 02:07.320 --> 02:09.560 Is there someplace else we can go to talk? 02:09.560 --> 02:10.560 Oh, we can, yeah. 02:10.560 --> 02:11.840 There's a room down in the hall. 02:11.840 --> 02:12.840 Well, that might be better. 02:12.840 --> 02:15.840 All right, we can go down there. 02:15.840 --> 02:17.400 Come on. 02:17.400 --> 02:18.400 Down this way. 02:18.400 --> 02:19.400 Yeah. 02:19.400 --> 02:20.400 Just a minute. 02:20.400 --> 02:21.400 This is it right here. 02:21.400 --> 02:24.400 Go ahead. 02:24.400 --> 02:25.400 Yeah. 02:25.400 --> 02:30.400 All right, you want to take a chair right there, son? 02:30.400 --> 02:31.400 Okay. 02:31.400 --> 02:36.320 All right, now what can we do for you? 02:36.320 --> 02:38.320 I want you to put me in jail. 02:38.320 --> 02:39.720 Why? 02:39.720 --> 02:40.720 Because it's the only way I'll stop. 02:40.720 --> 02:41.720 I know it. 02:41.720 --> 02:43.720 I've got to be in the cell or I'll do it again. 02:43.720 --> 02:45.240 What do you mean, son? 02:45.240 --> 02:46.240 I'm hooked bad. 02:46.240 --> 02:47.240 I want to stop. 02:47.240 --> 02:54.480 It was a nice looking boy, well dressed and clean. 02:54.480 --> 02:56.960 He looked like he was in his late teens. 02:56.960 --> 02:58.440 He asked us to put him in a cell. 02:58.440 --> 03:01.880 There was an intenseness in his eyes that showed that he was serious. 03:01.880 --> 03:02.880 Frank and I questioned him further. 03:02.880 --> 03:04.440 What's your name, son? 03:04.440 --> 03:05.440 John Coulter. 03:05.440 --> 03:07.440 Spell the last name for me. 03:07.440 --> 03:08.440 C-O-L-T-E-R. 03:08.440 --> 03:10.040 How old are you? 03:10.040 --> 03:11.040 Seventeen. 03:11.040 --> 03:12.040 What do you love, son? 03:12.040 --> 03:14.160 Do you have to have that? 03:14.160 --> 03:15.640 Hasn't got anything to do with why I'm here. 03:15.640 --> 03:18.080 Well, we'll have to have it, son. 03:18.080 --> 03:20.080 1896 Dillon Street. 03:20.080 --> 03:22.080 Is that in L.A.? 03:22.080 --> 03:23.080 Yeah. 03:23.080 --> 03:24.640 How big a habit do you have, son? 03:24.640 --> 03:25.640 I'm using four a day. 03:25.640 --> 03:27.600 How long you been hooked? 03:27.600 --> 03:28.880 A year, a day before yesterday. 03:28.880 --> 03:31.640 Want to let us see your arms? 03:31.640 --> 03:32.640 Yeah. 03:32.640 --> 03:37.280 You got a lot of marks there, haven't you? 03:37.280 --> 03:38.280 Yeah, I guess so. 03:38.280 --> 03:39.280 A couple of them there. 03:39.280 --> 03:41.280 We better have the doctor look at them. 03:41.280 --> 03:42.280 All right. 03:42.280 --> 03:43.280 I don't care anymore. 03:43.280 --> 03:45.520 How long since you had a fix? 03:45.520 --> 03:46.520 Last night. 03:46.520 --> 03:49.600 You must be feeling a little rough by now, then, aren't you? 03:49.600 --> 03:50.600 Not easy. 03:50.600 --> 03:52.080 I don't guess it is. 03:52.080 --> 03:54.040 Hey, you mind pulling those blinds? 03:54.040 --> 03:56.040 They're awful bright in here. 03:56.040 --> 03:58.680 Yeah, I'll get it. 03:58.680 --> 04:02.240 You live with your folks? 04:02.240 --> 04:03.240 My mother. 04:03.240 --> 04:05.400 My father died when I was five. 04:05.400 --> 04:06.800 Your mother know about this? 04:06.800 --> 04:07.800 No. 04:07.800 --> 04:10.480 She's going to have to, you know. 04:10.480 --> 04:11.840 Then you're going to tell her I'm not. 04:11.840 --> 04:12.840 All right. 04:12.840 --> 04:13.840 We'll take care of that. 04:13.840 --> 04:14.840 Is life better now, son? 04:14.840 --> 04:15.840 Yeah, thanks. 04:15.840 --> 04:16.840 When did you eat last? 04:16.840 --> 04:17.840 Yesterday. 04:17.840 --> 04:18.840 You hungry now? 04:18.840 --> 04:19.840 No. 04:19.840 --> 04:20.840 How about a cup of coffee? 04:20.840 --> 04:21.840 No, thanks. 04:21.840 --> 04:24.840 How'd you get started on this stuff? 04:24.840 --> 04:27.840 It probably runs like all the rest of the stories you've heard. 04:27.840 --> 04:30.840 Well, why don't you tell us yours, anyway? 04:30.840 --> 04:31.840 All right. 04:31.840 --> 04:34.840 I'm sure we can't get you something. 04:34.840 --> 04:38.840 Only one thing of doing any good, and you can't give that to me. 04:38.840 --> 04:39.840 All right, go ahead. 04:39.840 --> 04:40.840 How'd you get started? 04:40.840 --> 04:46.840 A couple of years ago, it was Halloween. 04:46.840 --> 04:48.840 Kids had a party. 04:48.840 --> 04:50.840 We all went to this house. 04:50.840 --> 04:54.840 Kid that owned it had the rooms all decorated up, you know, paper streamers and those cardboard 04:54.840 --> 04:55.840 skeletons. 04:55.840 --> 04:57.840 Had the whole place done up like that. 04:57.840 --> 05:00.840 We got there and found out they were figuring to play games. 05:00.840 --> 05:04.840 We went the game route for a while, and a bunch of us decided to leave. 05:04.840 --> 05:06.840 Things were dull, so we left. 05:06.840 --> 05:07.840 Where'd you go? 05:07.840 --> 05:10.840 We just drove around for a while, tried to figure something to do. 05:10.840 --> 05:11.840 Whose car did you have? 05:11.840 --> 05:13.840 One of the kids had his father's. 05:13.840 --> 05:15.840 All right, go ahead. 05:15.840 --> 05:18.840 Well, we drove around for a while, and one of the kids said for us to go up to Mulholland. 05:18.840 --> 05:20.840 Go up and scare the lovers up there. 05:20.840 --> 05:21.840 Yeah. 05:21.840 --> 05:24.840 Wasn't anything else to do, so we drove up. 05:24.840 --> 05:28.840 When we got there, one of the guys, a fellow I didn't know too good, said he had some tea. 05:28.840 --> 05:30.840 Said we should have a blast party. 05:30.840 --> 05:32.840 This boy was at the other party, was he? 05:32.840 --> 05:34.840 Yeah, but I didn't know him. 05:34.840 --> 05:36.840 Didn't meet him until we were out on the ride. 05:36.840 --> 05:37.840 Did he go to your school? 05:37.840 --> 05:38.840 No. 05:38.840 --> 05:40.840 All right, son, go ahead. 05:40.840 --> 05:42.840 Well, we parked, and he took out these cigarettes. 05:42.840 --> 05:44.840 They had them in a tobacco can. 05:44.840 --> 05:47.840 You know, like you buy pipe tobacco in there. 05:47.840 --> 05:51.840 Had them in one of them. 05:51.840 --> 05:53.840 Then we lit up and started to smoke. 05:53.840 --> 05:56.840 At first it made me sick. I didn't like it much. 05:56.840 --> 06:00.840 Come right down to it, I didn't think the whole thing was such a good idea. 06:00.840 --> 06:02.840 Why'd you do it then? 06:02.840 --> 06:06.840 All the kids there had to, or they'd have said I was chicken. 06:06.840 --> 06:09.840 All right. How'd you get started on the hard stuff? 06:09.840 --> 06:12.840 Oh, I just got to the point where there wasn't much kick in tea. 06:12.840 --> 06:14.840 You know, same thing all the time. 06:14.840 --> 06:16.840 I wanted to go up a step. 06:16.840 --> 06:17.840 Who set you up? 06:17.840 --> 06:19.840 One of the kids I met. 06:19.840 --> 06:21.840 Wasn't the same boy who had the marijuana, was it? 06:21.840 --> 06:22.840 No. 06:22.840 --> 06:26.840 You see, once in a while we'd go to a big blast party at somebody's house. 06:26.840 --> 06:29.840 The other kids there. New ones. I met Jerry there. 06:29.840 --> 06:31.840 Jerry, that's the boy's name? 06:31.840 --> 06:32.840 Yeah, Jerry Rowe. 06:32.840 --> 06:33.840 How old is he? 06:33.840 --> 06:34.840 Nineteen. 06:34.840 --> 06:35.840 See who? 06:35.840 --> 06:36.840 Yeah. 06:36.840 --> 06:37.840 Was he when you met him? 06:37.840 --> 06:38.840 I guess so. 06:38.840 --> 06:40.840 How do you spell his last name, son? 06:40.840 --> 06:41.840 R-O-A-T-H. 06:41.840 --> 06:43.840 How'd he turn you on? 06:43.840 --> 06:46.840 We were talking about tea. How the kick wore off. 06:46.840 --> 06:49.840 And he said there was something else. Something that had a real jolt. 06:49.840 --> 06:50.840 Yeah. 06:50.840 --> 06:57.840 Ah! Boy, it's rough. I'm starting to get cramps. 06:57.840 --> 06:59.840 You better have that cup of coffee now. 06:59.840 --> 07:04.840 All right. 07:04.840 --> 07:06.840 Feel pretty rough, don't you, son? 07:06.840 --> 07:11.840 Yeah. It's a good thing I'm here or I'd start looking for a connection. 07:11.840 --> 07:14.840 Did you take your first shot of heroin the night you met this Rowe kid? 07:14.840 --> 07:18.840 Yeah. We went outside to his car. He had a fit there and he cooked up a fix. 07:18.840 --> 07:20.840 He took one, then I tried it. 07:20.840 --> 07:21.840 What happened? 07:21.840 --> 07:25.840 Never got so sick in my life. Thought I was gonna die. 07:25.840 --> 07:29.840 Figure what's happened since then might have been a good thing. 07:29.840 --> 07:31.840 How you been supporting your habit? 07:31.840 --> 07:35.840 Only a couple of ways. You steal or you start pushing yourself. 07:35.840 --> 07:36.840 Which way do you go? 07:36.840 --> 07:37.840 Both. 07:37.840 --> 07:38.840 What'd you steal? 07:38.840 --> 07:43.840 Anything I could sell. Never took anything from anybody else, though. All from my own house. 07:43.840 --> 07:47.840 Most of the stuff was given to me. Rings, my watch, whatever I could raise a buck on. 07:47.840 --> 07:48.840 Where'd you get rid of it? 07:48.840 --> 07:54.840 Around the school. Couldn't go near a pawn shop, but the kids didn't care as long as they got a bargain. 07:54.840 --> 07:59.840 Sold my old man's watch for three bucks. 17 jewels, solid gold, three bucks. 07:59.840 --> 08:00.840 What were you pushing? 08:00.840 --> 08:04.840 Tea, H, anything. I'd buy the H and then cut it myself. 08:04.840 --> 08:09.840 You don't have to do that many times until you got a couple of extra caps. That took care of me for a while. 08:09.840 --> 08:10.840 Yeah. 08:10.840 --> 08:15.840 Pretty soon there was never enough. Got so as I was always looking forward to the next fix. 08:15.840 --> 08:17.840 When'd you start maiming him? 08:17.840 --> 08:23.840 I chipped with the stuff for a couple of months. Skin pops. Then that wasn't enough. Started in the arm. 08:23.840 --> 08:26.840 When'd you find out that you were hooked, son? Do you remember? 08:26.840 --> 08:27.840 About a year. 08:27.840 --> 08:29.840 Took a while, huh? 08:29.840 --> 08:36.840 I figured it would never happen. Thought I could beat it. Turn it off when I wanted to. Didn't work out that way. 08:36.840 --> 08:38.840 Didn't you know you had it bad when the charge went up? 08:38.840 --> 08:46.840 Not really. I still thought I could quit when I wanted to. Just never seemed to get that far. Kept putting it off. 08:46.840 --> 08:50.840 Guess if I figured I could start the next day, didn't matter much. 08:50.840 --> 08:54.840 Time I decided to quit, I couldn't. 08:54.840 --> 08:58.840 Here's your coffee, John. Brought one for you too, Joe. 08:58.840 --> 08:59.840 Thanks. 09:03.840 --> 09:04.840 Hot. 09:04.840 --> 09:06.840 Try to get it down. It'll make you feel a little better. 09:06.840 --> 09:07.840 Yeah. 09:12.840 --> 09:14.840 Cramp's getting worse. You got a doctor here? 09:14.840 --> 09:15.840 Yeah, there's one upstairs. 09:15.840 --> 09:17.840 I'd better see him. Might be something he can do. 09:17.840 --> 09:18.840 Is your mother at home? 09:18.840 --> 09:20.840 No, she works. She there now? 09:20.840 --> 09:21.840 What time is it? 09:21.840 --> 09:22.840 Quarter nine. 09:22.840 --> 09:24.840 It'll be about ten minutes. 09:24.840 --> 09:25.840 Better give us the number, huh? 09:25.840 --> 09:28.840 Yeah. You're gonna call her, huh? 09:28.840 --> 09:29.840 That's right. 09:29.840 --> 09:30.840 Gonna tell her about it? 09:30.840 --> 09:31.840 Yeah. 09:31.840 --> 09:35.840 Gonna take it pretty hard. I don't think she knows anything about it. 09:35.840 --> 09:36.840 Well, we have to do it. 09:36.840 --> 09:41.840 I guess so. Tell her how there's a cure, though, huh? She's gonna be pretty scared. 09:41.840 --> 09:42.840 How do you mean? 09:42.840 --> 09:44.840 She read where only two percent come out of it. 09:44.840 --> 09:48.840 Well, there's less than that who want to be helped. There's a lot less. 09:48.840 --> 09:49.840 Yeah? 09:49.840 --> 09:51.840 Maybe you got a piece of that two percent. 09:56.840 --> 09:57.840 Eight fifty-seven a.m. 09:57.840 --> 10:00.840 The boy was taken up to see the doctor on duty at the receiving hospital. 10:00.840 --> 10:04.840 At a couple of minutes after nine, we put in a call to the firm where his mother was employed. 10:04.840 --> 10:08.840 We talked to the personnel manager and he said he'd have Mrs. Coulter call us. 10:08.840 --> 10:11.840 A few minutes later, the phone rang and we talked to the woman. 10:11.840 --> 10:14.840 We told her briefly what had happened and asked her to come right over to the office. 10:14.840 --> 10:17.840 At nine twenty-five a.m., the door to the squad room opened 10:17.840 --> 10:21.840 and a tired-looking woman who looked to be in her late forties or early fifties entered. 10:21.840 --> 10:25.840 She identified herself as Nora Coulter and asked us what had happened to her son. 10:25.840 --> 10:28.840 He's upstairs right now, Mrs. Coulter. The doctor's looking at him. 10:28.840 --> 10:30.840 You tell me he's been using narcotics. 10:30.840 --> 10:31.840 That's right. 10:31.840 --> 10:32.840 You know what he says? 10:32.840 --> 10:33.840 Well, he's admitted it to us. 10:33.840 --> 10:34.840 He'll be all right. 10:34.840 --> 10:37.840 Well, we think so. He's got an infection on his arm caused by a bad needle. 10:37.840 --> 10:38.840 But it's gonna be all right. 10:38.840 --> 10:39.840 That's right. 10:39.840 --> 10:41.840 You have a cigarette, Sergeant? 10:41.840 --> 10:42.840 Yeah. Hang on. 10:42.840 --> 10:43.840 Thanks. 10:43.840 --> 10:44.840 Help yourself. 10:44.840 --> 10:45.840 Here's a light. 10:49.840 --> 10:52.840 I guess I should have known it'd be something like this. 10:52.840 --> 10:53.840 May I pardon? 10:53.840 --> 10:56.840 I should have known. I had to show up someplace. 10:56.840 --> 10:57.840 I don't think I understand, Mrs. Coulter. 10:57.840 --> 11:00.840 There's a trouble spot in the mall, Sergeant, all of them. 11:00.840 --> 11:01.840 This is Johnny's. 11:01.840 --> 11:04.840 If you don't think I'm saying this personal to you, 11:04.840 --> 11:06.840 it's just what I've seen in the years I've gone around. 11:06.840 --> 11:08.840 Trouble spot in all men. 11:08.840 --> 11:10.840 Did you know your son was using heroin? 11:10.840 --> 11:12.840 No, I didn't have any idea. 11:12.840 --> 11:14.840 According to what he told us, he's been hooked for over a year. 11:14.840 --> 11:16.840 You must have noticed something, didn't you? 11:16.840 --> 11:19.840 When you use the word hooked, I'm afraid I don't understand that kind of talk. 11:19.840 --> 11:21.840 I'm sorry. I mean, he's been an addict for that long. 11:21.840 --> 11:24.840 Sergeant, I've been working for a long time. 11:24.840 --> 11:27.840 Ever since Johnny's father died. I worked before then. 11:27.840 --> 11:30.840 When I get home after standing on my feet all day, 11:30.840 --> 11:33.840 I got a few more important things to do than wonder what he's doing. 11:33.840 --> 11:36.840 All I can do to just drag myself down to the factory every morning. 11:36.840 --> 11:38.840 Yes, ma'am. 11:38.840 --> 11:40.840 Always something bills to go over, 11:40.840 --> 11:43.840 decide who's going to have to wait this month, clothes to wash and iron. 11:43.840 --> 11:46.840 The time I just get the things done that have to be taken care of. 11:46.840 --> 11:49.840 That's all I can do to climb into bed before I pass out. 11:49.840 --> 11:51.840 All right, Mr. Coulter, we understand. 11:51.840 --> 11:53.840 I wonder if you do. 11:53.840 --> 11:54.840 How's that? 11:54.840 --> 11:56.840 I said I wonder if you do understand. 11:56.840 --> 11:57.840 Have you ever raised a boy by yourself? 11:57.840 --> 11:58.840 No, ma'am. 11:58.840 --> 11:59.840 I have. 11:59.840 --> 12:01.840 Believe me, it isn't easy. 12:01.840 --> 12:04.840 Since 11 years ago, I've been a mother and a father both to Johnny. 12:04.840 --> 12:07.840 I always knew there'd be something that'd blow up. 12:07.840 --> 12:10.840 I knew it because he's just like his father, exactly like him. 12:10.840 --> 12:12.840 I'm 35 years old. 12:12.840 --> 12:16.840 35, and for the past 17 years I haven't had a minute of happiness. 12:16.840 --> 12:19.840 Yes, ma'am. 12:19.840 --> 12:21.840 Anything we can get for you, Mrs. Coulter? 12:21.840 --> 12:22.840 No. 12:22.840 --> 12:24.840 Only thing I want is a little happiness. 12:24.840 --> 12:27.840 It seems like there just isn't going to be any of that while I'm on this earth. 12:27.840 --> 12:29.840 I'm sick, Sergeant. 12:29.840 --> 12:33.840 I'm old and I'm sick and I can't go through any more of this. 12:33.840 --> 12:35.840 Your boy's pretty sick, too, yeah? 12:35.840 --> 12:36.840 Yes. 12:36.840 --> 12:38.840 I know all about that, too. 12:38.840 --> 12:40.840 I read how none of them cured work. 12:40.840 --> 12:42.840 What'd they say, 2%? 12:42.840 --> 12:44.840 There's something else I gotta carry. 12:44.840 --> 12:45.840 Might be a little different with John. 12:45.840 --> 12:46.840 I don't see why. 12:46.840 --> 12:47.840 No reason for him to be something special. 12:47.840 --> 12:49.840 No reason for him to be cured. 12:49.840 --> 12:50.840 Yes, there is. 12:50.840 --> 12:51.840 He wants it, Mrs. Coulter. 12:51.840 --> 12:52.840 What's going to happen to him? 12:52.840 --> 12:54.840 We'll file a petition on him. 12:54.840 --> 12:55.840 After that? 12:55.840 --> 12:57.840 No, they'll have to make an appearance in juvenile court. 12:57.840 --> 12:59.840 They'll decide what treatment's going to be best for him. 12:59.840 --> 13:00.840 Can I see him? 13:00.840 --> 13:01.840 Yes, ma'am. 13:01.840 --> 13:02.840 We can take care of that. 13:02.840 --> 13:04.840 Frank, you want to see if the doctor's through them? 13:04.840 --> 13:05.840 Yeah. 13:05.840 --> 13:07.840 You have another cigarette, Sergeant. 13:07.840 --> 13:09.840 Yes, there you are. 13:09.840 --> 13:11.840 Here's a match. 13:11.840 --> 13:13.840 Thanks, Sergeant. 13:13.840 --> 13:16.840 It's all right. 13:16.840 --> 13:18.840 I'll tell you something, Mrs. Coulter. 13:18.840 --> 13:19.840 Your son's pretty sick. 13:19.840 --> 13:21.840 He's not going to look too good when you see him. 13:21.840 --> 13:22.840 He been hurt? 13:22.840 --> 13:25.840 Not so it shows, but he's going through a great deal of pain. 13:25.840 --> 13:26.840 There's going to be a lot more. 13:26.840 --> 13:28.840 For both of us, Sergeant. 13:28.840 --> 13:30.840 I guess you're right at that. 13:30.840 --> 13:33.840 It might be better if you remember that he's just a youngster. 13:33.840 --> 13:34.840 He's only 17. 13:34.840 --> 13:35.840 I won't forget. 13:35.840 --> 13:36.840 He's mine. 13:36.840 --> 13:37.840 All right. 13:37.840 --> 13:38.840 He's made a mistake, but he knows it. 13:38.840 --> 13:40.840 And he's taking it on himself to try and do something about it. 13:40.840 --> 13:42.840 I'll tell you something, Sergeant. 13:42.840 --> 13:43.840 All right. 13:43.840 --> 13:45.840 I've had a lot of trouble with Johnny. 13:45.840 --> 13:47.840 When he was little, he was always running away from home. 13:47.840 --> 13:50.840 By the time he got to school, he played hooky a couple of times a week. 13:50.840 --> 13:53.840 High school, it was the same thing, but that's not the worst of it. 13:53.840 --> 13:54.840 Ma'am? 13:54.840 --> 13:55.840 He's been stealing. 13:55.840 --> 13:57.840 From his own mother, he's been stealing. 13:57.840 --> 13:58.840 Yes, ma'am. 13:58.840 --> 14:00.840 He told us. 14:00.840 --> 14:01.840 He admitted it? 14:01.840 --> 14:02.840 Yes, he did. 14:02.840 --> 14:04.840 Well, there you are. 14:04.840 --> 14:05.840 Not bad enough. 14:05.840 --> 14:06.840 He's a dope fiend. 14:06.840 --> 14:07.840 He's a thief, too. 14:07.840 --> 14:09.840 I wasn't sure about the stealer, and I just thought so. 14:09.840 --> 14:12.840 A few things have been missing around the house, and I've asked Johnny about him. 14:12.840 --> 14:15.840 He'd offered some half-baked story, and now I know. 14:15.840 --> 14:17.840 He's a thief. 14:17.840 --> 14:20.840 I haven't got enough. 14:20.840 --> 14:22.840 Try to take it easy with the boy. 14:22.840 --> 14:23.840 Take it easy? 14:23.840 --> 14:25.840 That's a laugh. 14:25.840 --> 14:27.840 All I've done for him, nice home. 14:27.840 --> 14:29.840 Not real big or fancy, but it's clean. 14:29.840 --> 14:32.840 We've got a kind of closet, sort of, nice and big with a window. 14:32.840 --> 14:34.840 Got that all fixed up for Johnny. 14:34.840 --> 14:35.840 Airplane pictures on the walls. 14:35.840 --> 14:36.840 The best I could do. 14:36.840 --> 14:37.840 We eat good. 14:37.840 --> 14:38.840 Never gotten hungry. 14:38.840 --> 14:40.840 Lord knows I have, but he hasn't. 14:40.840 --> 14:42.840 No reason for him to do a thing like this. 14:42.840 --> 14:44.840 No reason at all. 14:44.840 --> 14:49.840 Yes, ma'am. 14:49.840 --> 14:52.840 Hello, Mother. 14:52.840 --> 14:54.840 I know all about it, Johnny. 14:54.840 --> 14:58.840 These men told me all the time I've been telling you it'd end up like this. 14:58.840 --> 15:03.840 You in trouble with the police, you just wouldn't listen. 15:03.840 --> 15:05.840 You thought you knew better than me. 15:05.840 --> 15:08.840 Well, you found out how much you know. 15:08.840 --> 15:10.840 Yeah. 15:10.840 --> 15:11.840 I'm sorry about it. 15:11.840 --> 15:13.840 It's a little late for that. 15:13.840 --> 15:16.840 How am I going to go home with all the neighbors knowing about what's happened? 15:16.840 --> 15:17.840 I'm sorry. 15:17.840 --> 15:19.840 Well, with that lot of good that's going to do. 15:19.840 --> 15:21.840 I had you home right now. 15:21.840 --> 15:26.840 I'd show you and don't think you're too big for me to do it. 15:26.840 --> 15:28.840 You want to take me upstairs, Mr. Smith? 15:28.840 --> 15:29.840 Yeah. 15:29.840 --> 15:30.840 Just a minute. 15:30.840 --> 15:32.840 I got some more things to say to you. 15:32.840 --> 15:34.840 Don't you go walking out on me like that. 15:34.840 --> 15:35.840 I don't feel so good. 15:35.840 --> 15:36.840 I'd like to be by myself. 15:36.840 --> 15:37.840 I'll talk to you later. 15:37.840 --> 15:38.840 You'll talk to me now. 15:38.840 --> 15:41.840 I've got a lot of things I want to tell you, all the trouble you've caused. 15:41.840 --> 15:43.840 I'm sorry. 15:43.840 --> 15:45.840 Please, Mr. Smith, it's tough enough. 15:45.840 --> 15:46.840 All right, let's go. 15:46.840 --> 15:47.840 You bring him back here. 15:47.840 --> 15:50.840 You bring him back! 15:50.840 --> 15:53.840 Well, that's it. 15:53.840 --> 15:55.840 Now they're both gone. 15:55.840 --> 15:57.840 Now there isn't anybody. 15:57.840 --> 16:00.840 Anything we can get for you, Miss Coulter? 16:00.840 --> 16:02.840 Yeah. 16:02.840 --> 16:04.840 Get me a reason why this had to happen. 16:04.840 --> 16:05.840 Give me one. 16:05.840 --> 16:07.840 Do you know one? 16:07.840 --> 16:09.840 Well, I can't be sure. 16:09.840 --> 16:11.840 What do you mean by that? 16:11.840 --> 16:12.840 Just like you said before. 16:12.840 --> 16:13.840 What? 16:13.840 --> 16:17.840 He's your son. 16:17.840 --> 16:20.840 We made arrangements for Mrs. Coulter to be taken to her home. 16:20.840 --> 16:23.840 That night, John Coulter was kept at Georgia Street Jail. 16:23.840 --> 16:25.840 The next morning, we filed a petition on him. 16:25.840 --> 16:28.840 We had one of the doctors at the county hospital talk to Mrs. Coulter, 16:28.840 --> 16:31.840 and he finally convinced her that her son would get proper treatment at one of the state hospitals, 16:31.840 --> 16:34.840 and she signed the necessary papers. 16:34.840 --> 16:37.840 For the next three days, the boy had it pretty rough. 16:37.840 --> 16:41.840 If the novice drug user had the opportunity to witness a patient going through withdrawal pains, 16:41.840 --> 16:44.840 the majority of drug traffic would be brought to a halt. 16:44.840 --> 16:48.840 Because of the sincerity of the Coulter boy, Frank and I spent as much time as we could spare with him 16:48.840 --> 16:50.840 while he was going through the symptoms. 16:50.840 --> 16:53.840 He complained of violent headaches and stomach cramps, the usual things. 16:53.840 --> 16:55.840 He was unable to keep any food down. 16:55.840 --> 17:00.840 His eyes watered constantly, and for 72 hours, he was in a state of constant violent pain. 17:00.840 --> 17:02.840 On the fourth day, he began to recover. 17:02.840 --> 17:06.840 He was able to take some warm beef broth, and apparently was on his way to being physically well. 17:06.840 --> 17:09.840 On Saturday, February 15th, we talked to him at the hospital. 17:09.840 --> 17:11.840 Rough go. 17:11.840 --> 17:12.840 Yeah. 17:12.840 --> 17:14.840 I think we've got the worst of it behind you now. 17:14.840 --> 17:16.840 Best thing I've heard for a week. 17:16.840 --> 17:18.840 Don't think I could go through any more of it. 17:18.840 --> 17:20.840 Well, you got a maiden, huh, John? 17:20.840 --> 17:22.840 From here on in, you'll get all the help we can give you. 17:22.840 --> 17:24.840 Well, you guys have done a lot already. 17:24.840 --> 17:29.840 Couple of times there, I think I would have gone off my rocker if I hadn't been able to talk to you. 17:29.840 --> 17:31.840 Well, that's what we're here for. 17:31.840 --> 17:33.840 Hey, either one of you got any gum? 17:33.840 --> 17:35.840 Yeah, sure. Here's some. 17:35.840 --> 17:36.840 Jumpy. 17:36.840 --> 17:39.840 I gotta do something to calm down. 17:39.840 --> 17:41.840 You seen my mother? 17:41.840 --> 17:43.840 She called us yesterday, yeah. 17:43.840 --> 17:45.840 How's she getting along? 17:45.840 --> 17:47.840 A lot better. One of the doctors here at the hospital talked to her. 17:47.840 --> 17:49.840 Said she wants to see you. 17:49.840 --> 17:51.840 What's that gonna prove? 17:51.840 --> 17:53.840 Be the same thing? 17:53.840 --> 17:55.840 Her telling me how tired she is, how I'm a goofball. 17:55.840 --> 17:57.840 I don't think so this time. 17:57.840 --> 17:59.840 It hasn't been easy for her either, you know. 17:59.840 --> 18:01.840 Maybe not, I don't know. 18:01.840 --> 18:03.840 I want to give her a chance to make it up. 18:03.840 --> 18:05.840 She wants to. 18:05.840 --> 18:06.840 Yeah. 18:06.840 --> 18:08.840 I guess there isn't much more I can do. 18:08.840 --> 18:10.840 All right, now there's a couple of things we want to ask you. 18:10.840 --> 18:11.840 What? 18:11.840 --> 18:13.840 We want the man who kept you supplied. 18:13.840 --> 18:14.840 Names? 18:14.840 --> 18:15.840 That's right. 18:15.840 --> 18:17.840 You figure I'll tell you? 18:17.840 --> 18:19.840 Don't you figure you will? 18:19.840 --> 18:21.840 Wrong base. 18:21.840 --> 18:23.840 I'm a bum in a lot of ways, but I ain't gonna get anybody else in trouble. 18:23.840 --> 18:25.840 You told us about this Jerry Roke, didn't you? 18:25.840 --> 18:26.840 Yeah. 18:26.840 --> 18:27.840 We got a want out on him now. 18:27.840 --> 18:29.840 Only be a matter of time before we pick him up. 18:29.840 --> 18:30.840 Then let him tell you. 18:30.840 --> 18:32.840 Do you think you got it a little wrong here? 18:32.840 --> 18:33.840 Yeah. 18:33.840 --> 18:35.840 What these people do for you? 18:35.840 --> 18:36.840 They're friends. 18:36.840 --> 18:38.840 Check the books. 18:38.840 --> 18:40.840 Go over what they've done for you against what you've done for them. 18:40.840 --> 18:42.840 What do you mean? 18:42.840 --> 18:43.840 You're a big boy. 18:43.840 --> 18:45.840 Figure it out for yourself. 18:45.840 --> 18:48.840 You know they tell us there's an estimated 25,000 narcotic users right here in Los Angeles, 18:48.840 --> 18:50.840 and a big part of them are kids. 18:50.840 --> 18:52.840 Read's good. 18:52.840 --> 18:53.840 Figures always help. 18:53.840 --> 18:54.840 I know, you remember something else, youngster. 18:54.840 --> 18:56.840 You came to us and you asked for help, didn't you? 18:56.840 --> 18:58.840 You walked into the office, you said you were in trouble. 18:58.840 --> 19:01.840 We're not trying to steal a plea or sound like big men, 19:01.840 --> 19:03.840 but when you said you wanted help, we didn't ask if you could afford it. 19:03.840 --> 19:05.840 We didn't care. 19:05.840 --> 19:08.840 Now, these people are such good friends, why didn't you go to them? 19:08.840 --> 19:10.840 I'll tell you why you didn't. 19:10.840 --> 19:12.840 Because you were scared. 19:12.840 --> 19:14.840 You knew what would happen if you walked up to them with empty pockets. 19:14.840 --> 19:16.840 You knew they'd spit right in your face. 19:16.840 --> 19:18.840 They're your buddy as long as you can pay for it. 19:18.840 --> 19:20.840 As soon as you're broke, they never met you today. 19:20.840 --> 19:22.840 Loyalty's fine. It's a good thing. 19:22.840 --> 19:24.840 People could use a lot more of it, but turn it around, son. 19:24.840 --> 19:27.840 You've stolen things from your own family to support this habit. 19:27.840 --> 19:30.840 Now, how loyal have your friends been when you haven't had the price of a cap? 19:30.840 --> 19:33.840 How quick did they come through for you then? 19:33.840 --> 19:35.840 You know what it's like in here. You've had it bad. 19:35.840 --> 19:37.840 Any of your friends been around to see you? 19:37.840 --> 19:40.840 Any of them been willing to hold your head while your insides fell out? 19:40.840 --> 19:43.840 Now, we asked you a question. 19:43.840 --> 19:45.840 We don't really need the answer from you. 19:45.840 --> 19:47.840 We'll pick up the people who did this. 19:47.840 --> 19:49.840 We'll reach every one of them from the mule that sold you that first cap 19:49.840 --> 19:51.840 to the guy who's been bringing the stuff right into the country. 19:51.840 --> 19:54.840 We just figured you'd like the chance to help out the other 25,000. 19:54.840 --> 19:57.840 I guess we had it wrong, didn't we? 19:57.840 --> 20:00.840 There's the phone. 20:00.840 --> 20:02.840 Put in a call to one of your high-powered friends. 20:02.840 --> 20:04.840 See how fast they come through for you now. 20:04.840 --> 20:06.840 You don't need us, and we don't need you. 20:06.840 --> 20:08.840 Let's go, Frank. Yeah. 20:08.840 --> 20:11.840 Wait a minute. Yeah. 20:11.840 --> 20:14.840 I'll give you the names. 20:14.840 --> 20:19.840 We talked to the boy for another hour and a half. 20:19.840 --> 20:22.840 During that time, he gave us as much information as he could 20:22.840 --> 20:24.840 on the operation of the narcotics ring. 20:24.840 --> 20:27.840 He supplied us with the names, dates, times, and places. 20:27.840 --> 20:30.840 However, he could only go so high in the organization. 20:30.840 --> 20:33.840 Frank and I went back to the office, and we called narcotics detail. 20:33.840 --> 20:37.840 We talked to Sergeant Roxy Luccarelli and his partner, Steve Broadhurst. 20:37.840 --> 20:41.840 We filled him in on what had happened and gave them a list of the names we had. 20:41.840 --> 20:43.840 The roundup of narcotics salesmen started. 20:43.840 --> 20:47.840 Inside the next 24-hour period, 14 men and women had been taken into custody. 20:47.840 --> 20:50.840 Each one of them was interrogated, but they either didn't know the name 20:50.840 --> 20:53.840 of the key man in the operation or they refused to speak. 20:53.840 --> 20:57.840 They were all booked on various sections of the state narcotics code. 20:57.840 --> 21:01.840 On Wednesday, February 18th, we received word that Jerry Rhoades had been 21:01.840 --> 21:03.840 picked up in a washroom in Pershing Square. 21:03.840 --> 21:06.840 Frank and I went over to the main jail to talk to him. 21:06.840 --> 21:08.840 All right, get it over with. 21:08.840 --> 21:10.840 We want one thing from you, Rhoades. Yeah? 21:10.840 --> 21:12.840 The name of the wheel. I don't know what you're talking about. 21:12.840 --> 21:14.840 Roll up your sleeves, boy. What for? 21:14.840 --> 21:16.840 Roll them up. 21:16.840 --> 21:18.840 Let's see the other one. They're both the same. 21:18.840 --> 21:20.840 Let's see it. 21:20.840 --> 21:23.840 Mark, what's that proof? 21:23.840 --> 21:25.840 That you're left-handed. When'd you have your last fix? 21:25.840 --> 21:27.840 Who says I use this stuff at all? 21:27.840 --> 21:29.840 I'll come off it, Rhoades. We got you and you know it. 21:29.840 --> 21:31.840 I don't see where it says that. How old are you? 21:31.840 --> 21:33.840 You got the record. Look it up. 21:33.840 --> 21:36.840 You're a big talker, aren't you, son? I live that way, too. 21:36.840 --> 21:38.840 Well, you're just taking a little drop, kid. 21:38.840 --> 21:40.840 You won't keep me here for more than 12 hours. 21:40.840 --> 21:42.840 Don't make book on this. Well, I got a lot of friends in this town. 21:42.840 --> 21:44.840 They'll get me out. You keep believing that. 21:44.840 --> 21:46.840 We put a hold on you when we came in. What's that mean? 21:46.840 --> 21:48.840 It means you'll be dropped into an ISO cell. 21:48.840 --> 21:50.840 We'll talk to you without us knowing about it. 21:50.840 --> 21:52.840 Everybody comes near you is gonna be checked back to the time they were born. 21:52.840 --> 21:54.840 And what's that gonna prove? We'll get to the wheel. 21:54.840 --> 21:56.840 You talk loud, cop, but I got trouble with my ears. 21:56.840 --> 21:58.840 All right, you sit right where the kid. 21:58.840 --> 22:00.840 You'll be screaming for us to talk with you. Yeah, sure. 22:00.840 --> 22:02.840 Keep believing it, because I'll give you one thing free. 22:02.840 --> 22:04.840 Yeah? Next time we're here, it'll be to listen. 22:08.840 --> 22:10.840 Jerry Rhoades was returned to his cell, 22:10.840 --> 22:12.840 and Frank and I went back to the investigation. 22:12.840 --> 22:15.840 For the next two days, we kept a constant check on the suspect. 22:15.840 --> 22:18.840 During that time, nobody had attempted to see him or talk to him. 22:18.840 --> 22:21.840 Saturday, February 21st, we got back to the office from lunch. 22:22.840 --> 22:24.840 Want to check the book? Yeah. 22:27.840 --> 22:30.840 Anything? Yeah, we're supposed to call him in jail. 22:30.840 --> 22:32.840 Rhoades probably wants to talk. 22:32.840 --> 22:34.840 Well, we might have tried to spring him. Yeah. 22:39.840 --> 22:41.840 This Friday, juvenile. 22:41.840 --> 22:45.840 When? We'll be right over. 22:45.840 --> 22:47.840 Rhoades? Yeah. 22:47.840 --> 22:49.840 Want to talk? Well, maybe we can ask him. 22:49.840 --> 22:51.840 They just cut him down. He tried to hang himself. 22:55.840 --> 22:58.840 Frank and I left the office and drove over to the jail. 22:58.840 --> 23:01.840 The boy had torn his trousers into strips and braided them into a rope. 23:01.840 --> 23:03.840 He'd attempted to take his own life. 23:03.840 --> 23:06.840 He'd been found on a routine check and had been cut down. 23:06.840 --> 23:08.840 The accident had been discovered almost immediately, 23:08.840 --> 23:11.840 and by the time we got there, he was almost fully recovered. 23:11.840 --> 23:13.840 We talked to him in the interrogation room. 23:13.840 --> 23:15.840 Kind of lousy way out, isn't it, kid? 23:15.840 --> 23:18.840 It looked good at the time. How's it seem to you now? 23:18.840 --> 23:20.840 I made a mistake. How do you feel? 23:20.840 --> 23:23.840 Pretty lousy. You want to give us the name? 23:23.840 --> 23:25.840 What kind of protection do I get? 23:25.840 --> 23:27.840 How do you mean? Well, if I tell you, I got it. 23:27.840 --> 23:28.840 No one's going to get me. 23:28.840 --> 23:30.840 Well, we'll try to build some kind of a wall for you. 23:30.840 --> 23:32.840 You won't note to me? No, not from us. 23:32.840 --> 23:34.840 Hi. Name's Pollard Zern. 23:34.840 --> 23:36.840 Want to spell that? Yeah. 23:36.840 --> 23:38.840 Z-E-R-N-E. 23:38.840 --> 23:40.840 He the top man? Yeah, I built the whole thing. 23:40.840 --> 23:42.840 Did he bring the stuff into the country? 23:42.840 --> 23:43.840 Yeah, Sergeant, he's got a boat. 23:43.840 --> 23:45.840 He tells people he's going fishing for Albuquerque. 23:45.840 --> 23:47.840 Where's he bringing it, from Mexico? 23:47.840 --> 23:49.840 Yeah, I've been with him a couple of times. 23:49.840 --> 23:51.840 He lands the boat at a beach down there, 23:51.840 --> 23:54.840 makes the contact, and then comes home, hides the stuff and fish. 23:54.840 --> 23:56.840 Got the idea from an old movie. 23:56.840 --> 23:58.840 That way, if they looked the boat over, chances are they won't find it. 23:58.840 --> 24:00.840 Nice setup, huh? Yeah, it sure worked good for him. 24:00.840 --> 24:02.840 Yeah. He made a mint, got a big house, 24:02.840 --> 24:04.840 drives a new car, got everything he wants. 24:04.840 --> 24:07.840 Just sits back and pulls a handle, jackpot, every time. 24:07.840 --> 24:09.840 No, not this time. Huh? 24:09.840 --> 24:11.840 He just turned a lemon. 24:11.840 --> 24:14.840 HONKING 24:18.840 --> 24:21.840 Pollard Harris Zern and the other members of the narcotics gang 24:21.840 --> 24:24.840 were tried and convicted of violation of the State Narcotics Act, 24:24.840 --> 24:27.840 a felony, and received sentence as prescribed by law. 24:27.840 --> 24:30.840 A petition was filed on John Keith Coulter, 24:30.840 --> 24:32.840 and he was made a ward of the juvenile court. 24:32.840 --> 24:34.840 After treatment, he was pronounced cured 24:34.840 --> 24:36.840 and returned to the custody of his mother. 24:36.840 --> 24:38.840 You have just heard Dragnet, 24:38.840 --> 24:41.840 the authentic story of your police force in action, 24:41.840 --> 24:43.840 and starring Jack Webb, 24:43.840 --> 24:47.840 a presentation of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service. 24:47.840 --> 25:02.840 HONKING 25:17.840 --> 25:32.840 HONKING 25:32.840 --> 25:46.840 HONKING 25:46.840 --> 26:01.840 HONKING