Case 14 - The Wrong Man

Case 14 - The Wrong Man(jpater) It was Monday morning and Tina Cassidy had just arrived at the 169th Precinct. She was on her way to the detective’s office. Ola, the dispatcher on duty, motioned for her to come into dispatch. “Could you man dispatch while I take a break?” asked Ola. Tina sat down and Ola put her glasses on the desk. “Be back in a few minutes,” said Ola walking out the door.

Tina had just finished running registration information and had her back to the door. Rebella knocked on the door to get her attention. Tina turned around and saw Harvey and Rebella. “There’re the newlyweds!” exclaimed Tina, as she ran and hugged them. “So how was the honeymoon and don’t leave out any details," said Tina, sitting back down. "I am going to go see J.P. while you girls talk,” said Harvey. Rebella sat down beside Tina and told her about her honeymoon in the Bahamas. After she finished telling about the honeymoon she inquired as to how Tina’s relationship was going. “Well J.P. took me up to Primrose Hill to kiss me. He also took me to the fair and we rode the ferris wheel and ate cotton candy, but he is private and tells everyone that I am not his girlfriend,” said Tina. Rebella patted her on the back. “Girl! He’s got the hots for you. Just give him time,” said Rebella with a smile on her face. Ola had finished taking her break and was standing in the doorway. “You are not corrupting my baby are you?” asked Ola. Rebella stood up. “No, I was just telling her about my honeymoon,” said Rebella. Ola walked over and hugged Rebella. “I am so happy for you and Harvey,” said Ola. She put her glasses back on and Tina was fixing to get up. The telephone started ringing. Tina answered the phone. Ola motioned Rebella to step out of the dispatch office, so she could hear about their honeymoon.

Tina wrote down the information and got on the radio. “All units prepare to copy,” said Tina. She cleared her throat before she got back on the radio. “All units are advised there was an escape from the Bronx Jail at 08:15 hours. Suspect is Johnny Nepps, white male, 5’9, average build, 36 years old, if located notified the 157th precinct, KVX169PCT clear,” said Tina. Ola walked over and patted her on the shoulder. “I got it from here, baby,” said Ola.

The telephone rang. J.P. Bullet answered the phone. "This is Johnny Nepps, I want to meet you in private. Meet me at 9031 Blue Jay Drive in 20 minutes," said Johnny. He hung up the phone. "That was Johnny Nepps, he wants me to meet him in 20 minutes at 9031 Blue Jay Drive," said J.P. "It might be a trap," said Susie. "Do you want me to have the swat team meet you over there?" said Harvey. "No, it might cause a standoff. Tina, Susie, and Harvey, I want you to stage at Blue Jay and Layla. Rebella, I want you to get your gear and get a visual and keep Harvey and the others updated."

J.P. approached the house carefully. He knocked on the door. “Johnny, it is Inspector Bullet,” said J.P. Johnny looked out the window and then he opened the door. J.P. went into the house.

Rebella did a scene size up. “Perfect,” said Rebella looking at a tall oak tree. She climbed the tree wearing a backpack. When she found a limb that would support her weight, she took out a piece of rope and tied one end to her leg and tied the other end to the trunk. She carefully went out on the limb. When she got as far as the rope would go she sat down on the limb and took out her binoculars.

Johnny went into the kitchen and sat down at the table. J.P. sat down at the table. “What do you want?” asked J.P. “I want my freedom. I was framed and I would like for you to help me,” said Johnny. “You realize escaping from prison does not look good,” said J.P. “I know, but it was the only way I could talk to you,” said Johnny. “What are you talking about?” asked J.P. “The guards don’t allow me to have visitors. They are working for the one that had Rebecca Bennett killed,” said Johnny. “Wait a minute are you telling me that someone had Rebecca killed and framed you?” asked J.P. “Yes, I was playing pool with my buddies at the bar when Rebecca was killed. The prosecuting attorney was bought off,” said Johnny. “Did anybody see you at the bar at the time Rebecca was killed?” asked J.P. “The bartender, Wilson Griffin, Wayne Stuvee, Paul Nickelson, and Olson Brown,” said Johnny. “I need to make a phone call right quick,” said J.P. Johnny stayed in the kitchen while J.P. went into the living room. He took out his cell phone and called Rebella, who had her cell phone in the backpack. “Rebella, stand down and tell Harvey not to come running in, to wait a minute before making entry,” said J.P. Rebella was confused but she followed her instructions.

J.P. went back to the kitchen. “Go out the backdoor, run, and don’t contact me. I will contact you,” said J.P. Johnny went out the backdoor and started running. When he was out of sight J.P. pulled out his service weapon and started firing. Harvey waited and then made entry with Tina and Rebella. “The son-of-a-gun got away from me!” said J.P. pretending to be mad.

J.P. and Tina were walking back to J.P.’s car. “You let him get away didn’t you?” asked Tina. J.P. did not say anything. Tina knew that he had helped Johnny escape. J.P. finally broke the silence. “I don’t think he killed Rebecca Bennett,” said J.P. “What if you are wrong?” asked Tina. “If I am wrong then my career is in jeopardy,” said J.P. Tina had a worried look on her face.

“Where are we going?” asked Tina as they were going down the road. “We are going to Wilson's Bar,” said J.P. Tina had a surprised look on her face. “Relax. We are not going to get a drink, we are going for information,” said J.P.

J.P. and Tina went into the bar which gave Tina the creeps because she had never been to a bar. They sat down at the bar. “Don’t show your badge,” warned J.P. Tina was beginning to tremble. “What will it be?” asked Wilson. “Two club sodas,” said J.P. Wilson poured the two club sodas and set them down and started wiping the bar. “I hope we can catch Johnny Nepps,” said J.P. to Tina. “Johnny did not kill that girl, he was here the day it happened,” said Wayne. “I am inspector bullet and I suspect that Johnny was framed,” said J.P. “I know he was framed,” said Wayne. Wayne went over to the wall and took a picture down. This is a picture of Johnny at the bar the night that girl was killed. We were having a dart throwing contest and Johnny won,” said Wayne. He took the picture out of the frame. “If this will help clear his name, please take it with you, I want to see him cleared of all charges,” said Wayne.

J.P. and Tina were heading back to the precinct. Tina kept looking at the picture. “There is a clock in the picture,” said Tina. She kept trying to see if she could tell what time was on the clock. “It almost looks like 8:30,” said Tina. “We will get Harvey to scan the picture and see if he can zoom in on it,” said J.P.

Harvey scanned the picture in and zoomed in on the clock. “It looks like 8:35” said Harvey. “According to the report a witness states that they saw a vehicle stop where they found Rebecca’s body around 8:15,” said Susie. “There is no way he could ditch the body at 8:15 and win the dart game at 8:35,” said Tina.

The telephone rang. Rebella answered the phone. She took the information. “They located Johnny Nepps and he is threatening to jump off the river bridge. J.P. grabbed his jacket and took off. “Tina, Rebella, Susie, follow J.P.” said Harvey, who would be second in command if J.P. was not available.

J.P. went to the river bridge. “What are you doing?” asked J.P. “Nobody believes me, so I am giving them the justice they want,” said Johnny. “You did not kill Rebecca Bennett, I can prove it,” said J.P. Johnny started having second thoughts about jumping. “I am not going back to prison,” said Johnny. “You won't be going back to prison when I show the District Attorney what I found,” said J.P. Johnny stepped down from the bridge. “I hope you understand I have to put you in handcuffs,” said J.P. He escorted Johnny to his car.

Back at the 169th Precinct J.P. and Tina were getting coffee. “Looks like you were right about Johnny being innocent. Of course, I knew when you let him go he was innocent,” said Tina. J.P. had a strange look on his face. “What!” said Tina. “When I let him go you liked to have three or four hemorrhoids” said J.P. “I did not,” lied Tina. “Yes, you did,” said J.P.

The murder charge against Johnny Nepps was dropped. For escaping prison he was remanded to time served and was released from jail.