Case 13 - The Fair

Case 13 - The Fair(jpater) Captain Graves called J.P., Tina and Susie into his office for a meeting. “The State Fair starts Friday night and opening night is usually when trouble happens. Rather than tying up additional resources Friday night, I am going to assign the three of you to help with security. J.P. and Tina, you will be working undercover as a couple. Susie, you will be working undercover as a clown. “Oh great! I get my face painted and go around acting like an idiot,” complained Susie. “That is your assignment for Friday night; dismissed!” said Captain Graves.

J.P. and Tina arrived at the State Fair. “How do I look?” asked Tina who was wearing a pink tank top and tight jeans. “You look pretty,” said J.P. “Just pretty,” said Tina, flashing her eyes like a little girl trying to get her dad to buy her something expensive. J.P. knew what she wanted him to say, so he finally went ahead and said it. “You look very beautiful this evening,” said J.P. “Awww!!! Thank you!” said Tina. J.P. took Tina’s hand and they crossed the street and entered the fair.

J.P. and Tina were walking along looking at the different rides. “Do you know what I love about the fair?” asked Tina. “What?” asked J.P. “The Ferris wheel and the cotton candy,” said Tina. As they were walking along they came upon Susie who was getting aggravated at trying to make balloon animals. They kept walking and did their best to keep from laughing.

Three people dressed as clowns walked up to the ticket office, showed a weapon, and demanded money. The ticket master handed over the money. After they left, the ticket master left the ticket booth and told an officer that she had just been robbed. J.P. noticed an officer running out the gate. “I don’t like the look of this,” said J.P. to Tina. They started towards the gate and saw another officer running out the gate. Captain Graves was at the gate getting information. “There were three people dressed as clowns. They just robbed the ticket master. A witness said that he saw them get into a green van and head down Broadway.” said Captain Graves. “There are numerous side streets down Broadway,” said J.P. “I know and most of the units are in residential areas and the business districts, it will take them about 5 minutes to get here,” said Captain Graves. “With your permission, me and Tina could go check some of the side streets,” said J.P. “Go!” shouted Captain Graves. They went running to J.P.’s car and sped down Broadway.

“Do you think we will be able to catch up with them?” asked Tina as they were going down the road. “Not a chance, I was only getting out of there before the police chief and the mayor showed up,” said J.P. “I guess there is going to be a good butt chewing,” said Tina. “You are darn right there is and I don’t want to be part of it,” said J.P. Tina was trying to figure out what J.P. was talking about. He saw the puzzled look on Tina’s face. “It’s like this, they have these large events and instead of spending extra money, they tax the department’s resources and then when something goes wrong, they blame it on the ones working the event,” said J.P.

The next morning Captain Graves called a special meeting. “The chief is furious at what happened,” said Captain Graves. J.P. went out on the limb. “I think it was the way the personnel was assigned,” said J.P. “What could we have done different?” asked Captain Graves. “There should have been someone assigned to the ticket booth, a concession stand, and close to where the band was playing,” said J.P. Captain Graves thought for a moment. “Tina you will be with the ticket master; Susie you will be working a concession stand; and J.P. you will be staged near the band,” said Captain Graves.

J.P. was standing next to the band at the fair. He noticed two people acting strange. They were drug dealers that Tina had arrested when she was working the streets when she was helping to cover a shift when officers got sick from eating at the Golden Plate Restaurant. “The one in that ticket booth is a cop, she arrested me a couple of weeks ago,” said Peepee. “Man, we need to get out of here,” said Fryer. The two suspects started walking away. J.P. started towards them and they took off running. J.P. started chasing them on foot, another officer saw what was going on and joined the chase. During the foot chase, Fryer slipped and fell. The officer assisting J.P. stopped. “I will take care of this one,” said the officer.

Susie was finishing serving a customer at the concession stand when she saw the suspect running. She motioned for one of the other ladies to go work at the window for a minute. She pulled out her service revolver and stepped outside. “We are the police and you are under arrest,” said Susie. PeePee put his hands up. “Turn around and put your hands behind your back!” instructed Susie. PeePee complied and Susie handcuffed him.

Monday morning at the 169th Precinct, J.P., Tina, and Susie were in the detective’s office. “I will be so glad when this stupid fair is over,” said Susie. “Me too, I used to love the fair but this bull crap will turn you against it,” said Tina. “Captain Graves is going to talk to the chief and see if he could contact some of the other precincts for manpower to help work the fair,” said J.P. “Isn’t that lovely, we work our butts off the whole darn weekend and then the last few days of the fair they decide to call in help?” asked Susie bitterly. J.P. and Tina thought the same thing but did not say anything.

“I guess while we are not working the fair, we need to start working on figuring out who robbed it Friday Night,” said J.P. Susie started thinking about a costume store on First Street. “I will be right back,” she said. She left the detective’s office and went to the costume shop. She showed her badge to the owner. “Have you sold any clown suits lately?” asked Susie. “Yes ma’am, I sold three of them Thursday afternoon. They brought them back this morning and said they were the wrong size,” said the owner. “Did you get their names?” asked Susie. “I have their signatures,” said the owner. He handed Susie a copy of the receipt. “I am sorry but I need to take the three costumes with me as evidence,” said Susie. “Were they used in a crime?” asked the store owner. “Yes, they used them to rob the ticket master at the state fair,” said Susie. “Hold just a minute,” said the owner, who started going through the bill of sales. He found the bill of sales where he had sold the three clown suits. “Each time I make a sale I ask for their mailing address because I host a Halloween Party and those that buy costumes from me, I invite them to come to the party,” said the owner. He handed Susie the bill of sale. Susie thanked him for the information.

When Susie got back to the car she called the Special Investigation division. Tina answered the phone. “I am on my way to 321 Boardwalk, I need back-up,” said Susie. Tina hung up the phone. “That was Susie, She is on her way to 321 Boardwalk and needs back-up,” said Tina to J.P.

J.P. and Tina met Susie at 321 Boardwalk. “The ones living here may have been the ones who robbed the ticket master. She showed J.P. the information that the store owner had given her. J.P. took out his cell phone and called dispatch. “Pearl, this is Inspector J.P. Bullet, 5-George 31. I am requesting additional units to 321 Boardwalk.

J.P., Tina and Susie drew their service weapons and approached the house. Tina got on the left side and Susie got on the right. “You girls ready?” asked J.P. They nodded their heads. J.P. kicked the door open and went in. Tina and Susie followed behind. They found three young men on the couch playing X-Box. We are the police and you are under arrest,” said J.P. The three young men were arrested and taken down to the precinct where they confessed to the robbery.

Tina had just got off work. She went home and changed. “I am glad I am not working that fair tonight,” said Tina to herself. J.P. stopped by her house. “Are you busy?” asked J.P. “No,” said Tina. “Good, I wanted to take you someplace,” said J.P. He took Tina to the fair. “Oh, no we are working undercover again,” moaned Tina. “No, something else,” said J.P. reaching in his pocket and pulling out a ticket bracelet to ride different rides. “We are going to go ride the ferris wheel,” said J.P. They rode the ferris wheel and got cotton candy.

Pee Pee and Fryer were found guilty of position of a control substance and sentenced to 1 year in jail. The three suspects who robbed the ticket master plead guilty and were sentenced to 10 years in prison.