The next series of events deserves a chapter in and of themselves. It began on a day I was at the station, preparing for the start of day shift. As I was headed to briefing, I was redirected to the office of Detective Sergeant Mayfield. He was initially from New York, which is a large percentage of the Florida population. He had actually gone to the same high school at the same time my wife was there. He was quick to point out that he never dated her.
This occasion, however, was a bit more unpleasant. He asked me if I knew a particular individual. By the last name, I connected him to a friend of mine who lived in the same mobile home development as I did. For the record, he too had been in police work and both of us were in the military reserves. His brother had just moved down and was temporarily living with him, his wife and their parents. I was asked by Mayfield if I knew that the brother was “on paper” (cop talk for on probation or parole). “No” was my response. He then told me of the incident that may have the brother in trouble.
Phase 1- There was an apartment building in the downtown area. It was a two story, four building complex laid out in a rectangle configuration with a patio area in the center. The entrances to the individual apartments all opened on to the patio area. On the building closest to the main street, in the center of the second floor, was a couple who had just recently moved in with their teenage daughter. The parents were in the only bedroom, so the daughter was sleeping in the living room on a sofa.
Late one night, the weather was conducive to an open window, which was where the sofa was. As she slept, she was suddenly awakened by a terrible pain in her head. She cried out loud enough to have her parents hear and respond to her side. She was bleeding from the head. It was apparent that she had been struck with a laundry iron, which was lying near the sofa. My friend’s brother’s bicycle had been found near an entrance to the complex. He was now staying with friends in a home near the complex, and was unaware that his bike had been stolen. He was eventually cleared as a suspect. While the victim was alright after getting medical attention, there was no immediate resolution to the incident. The perpetrator remained at large.
Phase 2- During a night shift, there was a call from a bowling alley in reference to an in-progress breaking and entering. The primary responding unit inquired as to the nature of the call as the bowling alley was open for business at that hour. After a short delay, the dispatcher advised that someone had broken in to a secured area inside the building. This area was just under the ceiling where there was access to all the lanes from the top, as well as electrical and plumbing. A male suspect had worked his way to where there was acoustic tile which covered the women’s bathroom. He was grossly involved with watching the proceedings of events in their bathroom from his bird’s eye view when the acoustic tile collapsed under his weight. This sent at least one occupant out of the bathroom and into the main part of the building to solicit help.
The primary responding officer got a clothing description of the individual, but announced that the suspect was gone before the officer arrived. At the same time, dispatch received a call from a nearby convenience store in reference to a suspicious male in her store. It just so happened that the clothing description matched our suspect. I was close enough to respond as a backup unit. As I was closing in, I shut off my headlights and was beginning a tactical approach. As I entered an intersection just prior to the store, another vehicle entered and did the same. His lights were off on his vehicle also, but he was not a police unit. We were swerving to avoid each other when I heard an impact to my vehicle. I got out to see if there was damage. The other driver was also checking his car. There was no contact between the cars. The impact on my police unit was from striking the side of a curb. No harm, no foul. We exchanged apologies. Meanwhile, at the store, two units had cuffed and stuffed our bowling alley buddy into a police unit and he was transported to the police station.
I had to return to the station to do some paperwork regarding the traffic incident, but on arrival, I was told to get with Officer Springer. He told me that our alleged perpetrator was a member of the armed forces. I went to the booking room and spoke with him. He advised me that he was a member of the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Bragg. He stated that he was on leave as he had just completed airborne training. After a series of questions (unit assignment, commanding officer, etc.), I told him that the Palm Beach Sheriff’s officers would notify his military post as to his whereabouts. I also let him know that he would probably be charged with violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
I learned later that he was, in fact, in the military at one time, but had been discharged prior to this event.
Phase 3- Delray Beach police reported a homicide of a young girl who had been babysitting some children. According to reports, she was attacked from the rear, stabbed multiple times in the back and had her throat cut.