COPS (1989) s24e02 Episode Script
Chases & Stings
Whatcha gonna do when sheriff John brown come for you? Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you? Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you? Announcer: Cops is filmed on location with the men and women of law enforcement.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Charlie district guys-- good group of people.
Some of these guys I had as recruits when I was a field training officer.
And I remember the days when they didn't know anything.
And actually have become some really good officers.
It makes you feel like you had a hand in that.
It's kind of, uh Kind of rewarding.
(Garbled radio transmission) (Over radio): Location? (Over radio): It's not stopping.
Looks like he'll make a bunch of furtive movements.
Just left a possible drug house.
(Over radio): Ten-four.
Wertanen: Got a unit following a vehicle that's not stopping.
Left a drug house.
(Over radio): He's dumping something outside the window right here at Brandesky.
It looks like cocaine.
It's a white powdery substance.
Speed-- 50 miles an hour.
(Over radio): Ten-four.
Going now to follow.
(Over radio): Looks like in the baggie is cocaine.
(Over radio): 554, baggie of cocaine.
Wertanen: Charlie 321.
I'm number two unit.
We're pulling in over here by the playroom lounge in the parking lot.
(Over radio): Ten-four.
Playroom lounge.
Wertanen: Going west on Sunnybrook.
(Over radio): Ten-four.
West on Sunnybrook.
(Engine revving) (Over radio): Are spikes authorized? (Over radio): Charlie 3? (Over radio): Charlie 3, spikes are authorized.
Wertanen: Still west on sunnybrook.
Just passed Nesbit.
(Over radio): Let's do something at green grove and McCardle.
Do something at green grove and McCardle.
(Over radio): Ten-four.
Green grove and McCardle.
Wertanen: Speeds are down to about 40 now.
Coming up on Evelyn.
We're going northbound on Evelyn.
Looks like he's going to stop.
(Over radio): Ten-four.
Speed 40.
North on Evelyn.
Officer Joseph garza: Let me see your hands! Let me see your hands! Throw the keys out of the car now! Open the door with your left hand.
Put your hands up.
Get out of the car.
Put your hands up.
Don't face me, turn around.
Turn around! Back up! Back up! Back up.
Back up! Get down on the ground.
Wertanen: I got him.
Put your hands behind your back, bud.
Put your hands behind your back.
Behind your back.
Somebody clear the car.
Garza: Clear the car, someone.
Good.
Wertanen: Okay, roll him over onto his butt and we'll sit him up.
Roll over, bud.
Okay, we're gonna lift you up.
Get your feet underneath you.
On three.
One, two, three, up.
There you go.
Can I have my hat? Wertanen: We'll get it.
Come on.
Hey, what, uh? My wallet, my wallet, my wallet.
Wertanen: Okay, we'll get it, we'll get it.
Come on over here.
Garza: Hey, we got a camera right now? Wertanen: Come on.
Right here, bud.
What-what's going on, man? Why are you running from the police? 'Cause I'm just nervous, man.
Wertanen: You were nervous? Do police make you nervous? Yep.
Wertanen: Okay, listen, bud, right now you're under arrest for evading-- evading detention.
You got the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be used against you in court.
You have the right to have an attorney and have him with you prior to and during any questioning.
If you cannot afford to hire an attorney, one will be appointed free of charge.
You have the right to stop answering questions or terminate the interview at any time.
Do you understand that? Yes, sir.
Wertanen: Okay, why were you running again? I was I was nervous, man.
I see him chasing after me, I don't know what was going on.
Wertanen: Okay.
Did you throw something out of your car? No, sir.
Wertanen: 'Cause the officer that was chasing you, he put it out over the radio, man.
He said he saw you throw something out of the car.
No, sir, I didn't throw nothing out of the car.
Wertanen: Okay, is there anything in the car that we should be concerned about? No, sir.
Wertanen: Have any drugs, any weapons? No, sir, no, sir.
Nothing in the car.
Wertanen: Okay.
Where were you coming from? A friend of mine right there on Athen street.
Wertanen: What's your friend's name? Uh, j.
D.
Wertanen: J.
D.
? How well you know j.
D.
? Just like a couple weeks.
Wertanen: Okay.
A couple weeks? Did you get out of the car and go into the house? Uh, he wasn't there.
Wertanen: He wasn't there? Okay.
So you didn't j.
D.
Didn't give you anything, or nobody gave you anything from the house? No, sir.
Wertanen: Okay.
Anything you want to ask from j.
D.
? Garza: No.
Wertanen: Okay.
Let's go ahead and double lock his cuffs.
- Make sure he's - I ain't going nowhere.
Can I get my wallet and my coat? Wertanen: We'll get it.
Stand by.
Go ahead and have a seat, bud.
Have a seat.
Watch your head.
Watch your head, man.
Watch your head.
Again, I still don't understand-- why did you run from the police? 'Cause, man, he put that alarm on me and started chasing after me, I got nervous, man.
Wertanen: Well, I mean, he put on his red lights, right? That's what police normally do to get you to stop.
Yeah, but, yeah, but he The way he did it, man, he went down-- he went down the block and zoomed around real fast.
I was like, oh, no, (Bleep) This, man.
I ain't I ain't did nothing wrong, man.
Wertanen: Well, what did you think was going to happen, man? I didn't know.
Wertanen: The house you were at, the officer that works that beat, he suspects there's some drug dealing going on, man.
Were you there to buy dope? No, sir.
Wertanen: That's why he was watching you, man.
'Cause you pulled up in front of that house.
Tonight, man, you're being charged with a felony.
When you run from the police in a car, that's a felony offense in the state of Texas, okay? I ain't trippin'.
Wertanen: All right, man.
Good luck to you.
Can I get my cell phone? Wertanen: We'll get it.
You just saw that one bag come out? Garza: Well, there was two times when he started messing around.
Wertanen: Throwing something out the window? Garza: Yeah, it was on McCardle, uh, I guess near brandesky, is where he started crushing He started grabbing stuff, making furtive movements.
I put that over the radio.
And then, uh.
.
And then there at McCardle and brandesky he started he started crushing something and all this powder was coming out.
Wertanen: He's got some white stuff on his face, but let me ask him.
Hey, Ricky, man, what's this white stuff on your face here, man? My face was on the concrete just then.
Wertanen: But it's like white, man.
My face was on the concrete just then.
Wertanen: Let me ask you a question, Ricky man, straight up.
Were you at that house buying dope? No, man.
I'm telling you, I wasn't, man.
I knocked on the door, he didn't answer the door.
I told you he wasn't there.
Wertanen: What did you throw out the window? I didn't throw anything out the window, officer.
Wertanen: Okay, well, that officer right there, man, I know him personally.
He doesn't He doesn't tell lies, man.
He said you threw something out the window, like some powdery stuff.
I didn't throw anything out the window, officer.
Wertanen: That wouldn't be any of that powder that's on your face right there? - My face hit the ground, so Wertanen: - Okay.
It looks like some officers have recovered what we believe he tossed out the window here.
What do y'all have? Garza: It's what they recovered over there-- officer, uh, Oliver recovered.
Over there on McCardle.
Wertanen: What was it? Just a loose powder? Garza: It was actually crushed by the traffic.
Wertanen: Okay.
He obviously destroyed the packaging and hoped it would blow away in the wind, but thanks to some, uh some good work by the officers here, they were able to recover some of it.
So probably be able to put the possession of controlled substance charge on him as well.
Garza: Three felony charges.
Wertanen: Three felony charges? Garza: Evading in a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence Wertanen: Okay, tampering with evidence.
All right, so you got three felony charges.
He's a convicted felon already, so So he's, uh he's going to have some legal hoops to jump through if he wants to be driving around the streets of Corpus Christi again.
I run the vice section for the Las Vegas metropolitan police department.
The focus that we've emphasized has been on pimps.
But we're gonna do what we can to minimize the heavy-handedness that the pimps are involved in when it comes to the prostitutes.
Right now we're heading up, uh, tropicana, and we're gonna work the track.
And it looks like it's already hopping out here.
Officer: That's her right there in the white shirt with black shorts.
Hughes: White tank top, black shorts.
Officer: In fact, there's a pimp right here on the right.
(Over radio): All right, I'm up six.
Hughes: We've got our male undercovers that are working as Johns, and undercover cars are getting solicitings from the prostitutes.
(Over radio): She's She's talking to a dude right now.
She kind of looked at me.
I'm gonna wait for him to break away from her.
I'll try to put a run at her.
Officer: The black male that was with the girls, he's walking over to John's car.
(Over radio): Taping my transmission now.
I don't know.
Officer: He's pulling up.
Hughes: Problems.
Officer: Mm-hmm.
(Over radio): I'm sorry.
(Indistinct radio transmission) Officer: Ah, there we go.
(Over radio): I'm gonna back up, man.
Hughes: Oh-ho-ho, perfect.
Officer: He's got an aid and abet on the black male now.
Hughes: Yeah, he does.
Officer: All right, John's backing up, he's parking.
We're gonna get an aid and abet on the black male if he can get her to walk over to John's car.
Yeah, she's talking to another guy wearing all dark.
All right, well, just be careful.
They may be setting you up for a robbery.
(Indistinct radio transmission) (Over radio): What's it going, $100? Officer: A hundred? (Over radio): Man, I'll give you yours, but she gotta come down.
Let her get in.
Yeah, I got this guy on aid and abet.
You want to give him $20.
He's coming to get in my car now.
Officer: Female is walking to John's car.
Both black males are almost at his car now.
(Over radio): You get in.
Here's your $20.
Is she treating me good? Hell, I'm treating her.
Treat her good.
Hughes: See him drive away with her? Officer: Yeah.
(Over radio): We're gonna go to motel.
Officer: Okay, he's eastbound through the lot.
We're gonna need to take down this black male.
I need two people.
John and Jason, I need you to take down both black males.
Let's see your hands! On the ground now! Police! On the ground now! Police! Get on the ground now! On the ground! Get on the ground now! Police! Get on the ground now! On the ground! Stay down! Stay down.
Hand.
Give me one of your hands.
Get on the ground.
Do you hear what I said to you, huh? Get up.
What is the problem, officer? Did you turn around and see the police? Do you see this? Hughes: All right, we've got the two potential PI's.
We at least got 'em for aiding and abetting, but they're probably her pimp.
Um, and then we've got the other UC that's in pocket right now, uh, with the female.
So we're gonna locate him.
He's probably down here at the motel.
And, uh, we'll bust her out.
Officer: They're with her right now? Hughes: Yeah.
They've already taken her into custody, so we'll be rolling up on her right now.
So what am I supposed to be under arrest for? Right now you're being detained for aid and abet prostitution.
Hughes: Who are the guys back there? Um, I just know them from around the block.
That's how I know 'em.
Hughes: And they're arranging tricks for you? No, they never did that.
I didn't even No, they never did that for me.
Never.
I've never asked nobody.
I just do it myself.
Hughes: How long you been in Las Vegas? Only for about a couple of months.
Hughes: Couple months? Who you staying with? I stay by myself.
Hughes: By yourself? And how old are you? I'm 18.
Hughes: You got some I.
D.
On you? No? Probably not.
Does your mom know where you're at? My mom knows I live in Las Vegas, yes.
Hughes: She does? And what do you do for a living in Las Vegas when you're not hanging out on the street? I don't do nothing else.
Hughes: Well, how have you been supporting yourself for the last three months? Obviously this.
Hughes: This? Even though you haven't been arrested yet? How much money you earn in a night? At least $400 or $500.
Hughes: $400 or $500? Whose pocket's that going into? It goes in my pocket.
I don't pay nobody.
I don't have no pimp 'cause I don't feel like I should have to pay somebody for something I do.
Hughes: You won't survive out here without a pimp.
You know that and they know that.
No, you can.
Officer: Did you get this tonight? Um, I got some of it tonight.
Officer: You got some hundreds, too? It was supposed to be.
Officer: I got $100 here.
Hughes: That's it? Okay.
Officer: What'd you do for that 100 bucks? I (Bleep) For the 100 bucks.
Hughes: You got your whole life ahead of you.
You can't be out here.
Do you understand how dangerous these streets are? Have you been hurt yet? You have.
Is this what you want for the rest of your life? You can't be standing out on a street corner working the streets in Las Vegas or you're not gonna see an adult life.
You're not.
And the longer you stay in Las Vegas plying this kind of a trade, the more charges you're gonna stack up against you.
And then you're gonna find how difficult this lifestyle is if you haven't already.
You're gonna get beaten by a pimp, you're gonna get raped by a trick, okay? Vice is the least of your worries.
Probably the best thing that could happen to you tonight.
When they come to a brand-new city, she has no work background.
She's got no aspirations to go to school.
She's got no plan when she got here.
She's virtually homeless and she's gotta rely on the people on the street to take care of her.
So she sells her soul to the first person that's willing to give her something that she can hold onto.
And it's usually gonna be the ones that are gonna exploit 'em.
I have never This is my first time.
I've been doing this for a year and a half.
First time getting caught? Hughes: She says she doesn't have a pimp.
You can't walk these streets without having a pimp.
But that's very typical.
They're not gonna dime out their pimp.
The girl that we saw tonight, that's what they're looking for.
Somebody just like that to exploit 100 times over.
And they will.
Deputy Meghan Kowal: I grew up playing softball and I went to college and played ball.
It definitely helps my career because this is definitely a career where you can't let yourself go.
To play softball, it's definitely a team sport.
You know it's a team sport out here.
You have to, you know, be able to work well with other people and you have to, you know, communicate well with other deputies and work together.
(Engine revving, tires squeal) Officer: Oh, no, he didn't.
(Indistinct radio transmission) Kowal: We're up here clearing up another traffic stop and a vehicle had passed us.
Made a u-turn in the median, squealing its tires and blew up some smoke.
So we're gonna try to chase it down.
Switching.
Go ahead, corporal.
(Over radio): Caught up with me? Kowal: Yeah, I'm behind you.
(Over radio): All right, let me know when you're behind me.
I'll light him up.
You can make the initial approach if you want.
Side, then come on around me.
Kowal: 22-63, 10-50.
(Over radio): 22-63.
Kowal: 10-50 on Valrico road.
Florida tags one-echo on a black dodge neon.
(Indistinct radio transmission) How's it going? Kowal: Hey.
Good.
I'm deputy kowal.
Do you have your insurance and registration with you? Um, this actually isn't my car.
It's a friend of mine's car.
Kowal: Okay, why don't you check in the glove box? I just wanted to make sure you were up here before I Kowal: Okay, why don't you check in the glove box? Who's the vehicle belong to? My neighbor.
Kowal: What's his name? Juan.
Kowal: Juan what? Juan what? I don't know his last name to be honest with you.
Kowal: Where's he live at? Right there.
I live off Summersills drive.
He lives on Summersills drive.
Kowal: Okay, why don't you check for insurance in that vehicle? I really would not have done anything like that.
This is my first time driving the car.
Kowal: What do you think you're pulled over for? Uh, probably speeding.
Kowal: Mmm, maybe squealing your tires when you came around that corner? When you made that u-turn on highway 60? Oh, okay, I know what you're talking about.
Kowal: Okay.
I'm real sorry about that.
I don't normally do that.
Um, I don't see insurance in here, ma'am.
Kowal: Okay.
Where you coming from, Adam? I just came from my friend's house.
Kowal: Where's that at? Right there on Westchester.
Kowal: And where you headed now? I'm headed to my house to return the car and go back to my house.
Kowal: Is this your first time driving this vehicle? Yes, ma'am.
Kowal: Okay.
That's why I'm I really didn't want to do anything like this.
Kowal: All right, sit tight.
I didn't want to get stopped in his car.
Kowal: I'm gonna run his driver's license right now, make sure he's valid, doesn't have any warrants.
Would you believe he got a street check for racing on the highway in August of 2010? Officer: Well, that's what he was doing with the initial car when they turned the corner and took off.
Kowal: Yeah.
Officer: So you can cite him for that if you want.
You're just gonna do reckless driving on him and give him a warning on some of the other stuff, and incorporate all his moving violations into one criminal charge.
Kowal: Right.
I'm gonna go finish it.
Adam, why don't you step out for me? All right, here's your information back.
You said this is your friend's vehicle? Yes, ma'am.
Kowal: You think he's gonna be mad that you're ragging on it and spinning tires and speeding and racing? Yes, ma'am.
Kowal: Yeah.
Do you have a vehicle like this? I have a Honda civic.
Kowal: Honda civic? That's why he didn't want me driving tonight 'cause mine is kind of not totally up to date.
Kowal: What's that mean? I have no exhaust on mine.
That's why I got stopped not that long ago.
Kowal: Hmm.
You race a lot? No, I do not.
Kowal: You don't street race at all? No, ma'am.
Kowal: Have you ever street-raced? No, ma'am.
I got in trouble for motorcycles for wheelies and stupid stuff on the street.
Kowal: So you never got in trouble, maybe back in August of last year for street racing? Is that a different Adam? - No, no, I got stopped for (Over radio): - Straight up the 26.
- The dispatcher on 36 at the star motel Kowal: - For street racing? I got stopped because me and a friend of mine, we're side by side, and we Kowal: You got a citation for street racing.
A citation for street racing.
I don't remember that.
I might have.
I'm not gonna lie.
I might have.
Kowal: Yeah.
But I don't remember.
Kowal: It wasn't that long ago.
Okay, listen, I wrote you a citation for reckless driving.
I'm cutting you a break here.
I could have written you a citation for your exhaust, for spinning your tires, for racing, for cutting in and out of the vehicles, okay? I understand.
Kowal: All right, sign here on the x.
You have ten days.
It's a criminal citation, okay? You got ten days.
You know where the plant city courthouse is? Plant city courthouse? Yes, ma'am.
Kowal: Mm-hmm.
Okay.
How much is the ticket? Kowal: It's not.
It's a criminal citation.
I had the option to arrest you tonight, okay? I'm not going to.
I'm just gonna issue you a citation.
Sign right here above my name.
Sorry.
I'm nervous.
- This ain't even my car, and I'm Kowal: - Well, how do you think he's gonna feel knowing that you're racing his vehicle? He's gonna be mad.
I'm not even gonna lie.
Kowal: Yeah.
You think you're ever gonna drive his vehicle again? Probably not.
Kowal: Probably not? And I did a whole bunch of work to this car.
Kowal: What'd you do to it? Uh, it's got an upgraded fuel system, it's got upgraded fuel pump, fuel rail, intake system, a different turbo, a coil pack system, um Kowal: Lots of stuff.
Okay, I need your right thumb.
Right here.
Don't press hard.
Perfect.
There you go.
Drive safely.
Thank you.
Kowal: No racing, no spinning your tires.
Promise.
Kowal: Go easy on it.
Go home.
I will.
Thank you.
Officer: You just made a bunch of people happy on state road 60 'cause they all saw him driving like that, and they were all looking at us.
Kowal: (Chuckles) Right.
Officer: And they definitely knew that we were after him Kowal: That we were coming after him.
We got a lot of complains about that kind of driving.
The racing? That's gonna make the public really happy at least for tonight we took one person and hopefully that one was the last time and won't do that again.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Charlie district guys-- good group of people.
Some of these guys I had as recruits when I was a field training officer.
And I remember the days when they didn't know anything.
And actually have become some really good officers.
It makes you feel like you had a hand in that.
It's kind of, uh Kind of rewarding.
(Garbled radio transmission) (Over radio): Location? (Over radio): It's not stopping.
Looks like he'll make a bunch of furtive movements.
Just left a possible drug house.
(Over radio): Ten-four.
Wertanen: Got a unit following a vehicle that's not stopping.
Left a drug house.
(Over radio): He's dumping something outside the window right here at Brandesky.
It looks like cocaine.
It's a white powdery substance.
Speed-- 50 miles an hour.
(Over radio): Ten-four.
Going now to follow.
(Over radio): Looks like in the baggie is cocaine.
(Over radio): 554, baggie of cocaine.
Wertanen: Charlie 321.
I'm number two unit.
We're pulling in over here by the playroom lounge in the parking lot.
(Over radio): Ten-four.
Playroom lounge.
Wertanen: Going west on Sunnybrook.
(Over radio): Ten-four.
West on Sunnybrook.
(Engine revving) (Over radio): Are spikes authorized? (Over radio): Charlie 3? (Over radio): Charlie 3, spikes are authorized.
Wertanen: Still west on sunnybrook.
Just passed Nesbit.
(Over radio): Let's do something at green grove and McCardle.
Do something at green grove and McCardle.
(Over radio): Ten-four.
Green grove and McCardle.
Wertanen: Speeds are down to about 40 now.
Coming up on Evelyn.
We're going northbound on Evelyn.
Looks like he's going to stop.
(Over radio): Ten-four.
Speed 40.
North on Evelyn.
Officer Joseph garza: Let me see your hands! Let me see your hands! Throw the keys out of the car now! Open the door with your left hand.
Put your hands up.
Get out of the car.
Put your hands up.
Don't face me, turn around.
Turn around! Back up! Back up! Back up.
Back up! Get down on the ground.
Wertanen: I got him.
Put your hands behind your back, bud.
Put your hands behind your back.
Behind your back.
Somebody clear the car.
Garza: Clear the car, someone.
Good.
Wertanen: Okay, roll him over onto his butt and we'll sit him up.
Roll over, bud.
Okay, we're gonna lift you up.
Get your feet underneath you.
On three.
One, two, three, up.
There you go.
Can I have my hat? Wertanen: We'll get it.
Come on.
Hey, what, uh? My wallet, my wallet, my wallet.
Wertanen: Okay, we'll get it, we'll get it.
Come on over here.
Garza: Hey, we got a camera right now? Wertanen: Come on.
Right here, bud.
What-what's going on, man? Why are you running from the police? 'Cause I'm just nervous, man.
Wertanen: You were nervous? Do police make you nervous? Yep.
Wertanen: Okay, listen, bud, right now you're under arrest for evading-- evading detention.
You got the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be used against you in court.
You have the right to have an attorney and have him with you prior to and during any questioning.
If you cannot afford to hire an attorney, one will be appointed free of charge.
You have the right to stop answering questions or terminate the interview at any time.
Do you understand that? Yes, sir.
Wertanen: Okay, why were you running again? I was I was nervous, man.
I see him chasing after me, I don't know what was going on.
Wertanen: Okay.
Did you throw something out of your car? No, sir.
Wertanen: 'Cause the officer that was chasing you, he put it out over the radio, man.
He said he saw you throw something out of the car.
No, sir, I didn't throw nothing out of the car.
Wertanen: Okay, is there anything in the car that we should be concerned about? No, sir.
Wertanen: Have any drugs, any weapons? No, sir, no, sir.
Nothing in the car.
Wertanen: Okay.
Where were you coming from? A friend of mine right there on Athen street.
Wertanen: What's your friend's name? Uh, j.
D.
Wertanen: J.
D.
? How well you know j.
D.
? Just like a couple weeks.
Wertanen: Okay.
A couple weeks? Did you get out of the car and go into the house? Uh, he wasn't there.
Wertanen: He wasn't there? Okay.
So you didn't j.
D.
Didn't give you anything, or nobody gave you anything from the house? No, sir.
Wertanen: Okay.
Anything you want to ask from j.
D.
? Garza: No.
Wertanen: Okay.
Let's go ahead and double lock his cuffs.
- Make sure he's - I ain't going nowhere.
Can I get my wallet and my coat? Wertanen: We'll get it.
Stand by.
Go ahead and have a seat, bud.
Have a seat.
Watch your head.
Watch your head, man.
Watch your head.
Again, I still don't understand-- why did you run from the police? 'Cause, man, he put that alarm on me and started chasing after me, I got nervous, man.
Wertanen: Well, I mean, he put on his red lights, right? That's what police normally do to get you to stop.
Yeah, but, yeah, but he The way he did it, man, he went down-- he went down the block and zoomed around real fast.
I was like, oh, no, (Bleep) This, man.
I ain't I ain't did nothing wrong, man.
Wertanen: Well, what did you think was going to happen, man? I didn't know.
Wertanen: The house you were at, the officer that works that beat, he suspects there's some drug dealing going on, man.
Were you there to buy dope? No, sir.
Wertanen: That's why he was watching you, man.
'Cause you pulled up in front of that house.
Tonight, man, you're being charged with a felony.
When you run from the police in a car, that's a felony offense in the state of Texas, okay? I ain't trippin'.
Wertanen: All right, man.
Good luck to you.
Can I get my cell phone? Wertanen: We'll get it.
You just saw that one bag come out? Garza: Well, there was two times when he started messing around.
Wertanen: Throwing something out the window? Garza: Yeah, it was on McCardle, uh, I guess near brandesky, is where he started crushing He started grabbing stuff, making furtive movements.
I put that over the radio.
And then, uh.
.
And then there at McCardle and brandesky he started he started crushing something and all this powder was coming out.
Wertanen: He's got some white stuff on his face, but let me ask him.
Hey, Ricky, man, what's this white stuff on your face here, man? My face was on the concrete just then.
Wertanen: But it's like white, man.
My face was on the concrete just then.
Wertanen: Let me ask you a question, Ricky man, straight up.
Were you at that house buying dope? No, man.
I'm telling you, I wasn't, man.
I knocked on the door, he didn't answer the door.
I told you he wasn't there.
Wertanen: What did you throw out the window? I didn't throw anything out the window, officer.
Wertanen: Okay, well, that officer right there, man, I know him personally.
He doesn't He doesn't tell lies, man.
He said you threw something out the window, like some powdery stuff.
I didn't throw anything out the window, officer.
Wertanen: That wouldn't be any of that powder that's on your face right there? - My face hit the ground, so Wertanen: - Okay.
It looks like some officers have recovered what we believe he tossed out the window here.
What do y'all have? Garza: It's what they recovered over there-- officer, uh, Oliver recovered.
Over there on McCardle.
Wertanen: What was it? Just a loose powder? Garza: It was actually crushed by the traffic.
Wertanen: Okay.
He obviously destroyed the packaging and hoped it would blow away in the wind, but thanks to some, uh some good work by the officers here, they were able to recover some of it.
So probably be able to put the possession of controlled substance charge on him as well.
Garza: Three felony charges.
Wertanen: Three felony charges? Garza: Evading in a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence Wertanen: Okay, tampering with evidence.
All right, so you got three felony charges.
He's a convicted felon already, so So he's, uh he's going to have some legal hoops to jump through if he wants to be driving around the streets of Corpus Christi again.
I run the vice section for the Las Vegas metropolitan police department.
The focus that we've emphasized has been on pimps.
But we're gonna do what we can to minimize the heavy-handedness that the pimps are involved in when it comes to the prostitutes.
Right now we're heading up, uh, tropicana, and we're gonna work the track.
And it looks like it's already hopping out here.
Officer: That's her right there in the white shirt with black shorts.
Hughes: White tank top, black shorts.
Officer: In fact, there's a pimp right here on the right.
(Over radio): All right, I'm up six.
Hughes: We've got our male undercovers that are working as Johns, and undercover cars are getting solicitings from the prostitutes.
(Over radio): She's She's talking to a dude right now.
She kind of looked at me.
I'm gonna wait for him to break away from her.
I'll try to put a run at her.
Officer: The black male that was with the girls, he's walking over to John's car.
(Over radio): Taping my transmission now.
I don't know.
Officer: He's pulling up.
Hughes: Problems.
Officer: Mm-hmm.
(Over radio): I'm sorry.
(Indistinct radio transmission) Officer: Ah, there we go.
(Over radio): I'm gonna back up, man.
Hughes: Oh-ho-ho, perfect.
Officer: He's got an aid and abet on the black male now.
Hughes: Yeah, he does.
Officer: All right, John's backing up, he's parking.
We're gonna get an aid and abet on the black male if he can get her to walk over to John's car.
Yeah, she's talking to another guy wearing all dark.
All right, well, just be careful.
They may be setting you up for a robbery.
(Indistinct radio transmission) (Over radio): What's it going, $100? Officer: A hundred? (Over radio): Man, I'll give you yours, but she gotta come down.
Let her get in.
Yeah, I got this guy on aid and abet.
You want to give him $20.
He's coming to get in my car now.
Officer: Female is walking to John's car.
Both black males are almost at his car now.
(Over radio): You get in.
Here's your $20.
Is she treating me good? Hell, I'm treating her.
Treat her good.
Hughes: See him drive away with her? Officer: Yeah.
(Over radio): We're gonna go to motel.
Officer: Okay, he's eastbound through the lot.
We're gonna need to take down this black male.
I need two people.
John and Jason, I need you to take down both black males.
Let's see your hands! On the ground now! Police! On the ground now! Police! Get on the ground now! On the ground! Get on the ground now! Police! Get on the ground now! On the ground! Stay down! Stay down.
Hand.
Give me one of your hands.
Get on the ground.
Do you hear what I said to you, huh? Get up.
What is the problem, officer? Did you turn around and see the police? Do you see this? Hughes: All right, we've got the two potential PI's.
We at least got 'em for aiding and abetting, but they're probably her pimp.
Um, and then we've got the other UC that's in pocket right now, uh, with the female.
So we're gonna locate him.
He's probably down here at the motel.
And, uh, we'll bust her out.
Officer: They're with her right now? Hughes: Yeah.
They've already taken her into custody, so we'll be rolling up on her right now.
So what am I supposed to be under arrest for? Right now you're being detained for aid and abet prostitution.
Hughes: Who are the guys back there? Um, I just know them from around the block.
That's how I know 'em.
Hughes: And they're arranging tricks for you? No, they never did that.
I didn't even No, they never did that for me.
Never.
I've never asked nobody.
I just do it myself.
Hughes: How long you been in Las Vegas? Only for about a couple of months.
Hughes: Couple months? Who you staying with? I stay by myself.
Hughes: By yourself? And how old are you? I'm 18.
Hughes: You got some I.
D.
On you? No? Probably not.
Does your mom know where you're at? My mom knows I live in Las Vegas, yes.
Hughes: She does? And what do you do for a living in Las Vegas when you're not hanging out on the street? I don't do nothing else.
Hughes: Well, how have you been supporting yourself for the last three months? Obviously this.
Hughes: This? Even though you haven't been arrested yet? How much money you earn in a night? At least $400 or $500.
Hughes: $400 or $500? Whose pocket's that going into? It goes in my pocket.
I don't pay nobody.
I don't have no pimp 'cause I don't feel like I should have to pay somebody for something I do.
Hughes: You won't survive out here without a pimp.
You know that and they know that.
No, you can.
Officer: Did you get this tonight? Um, I got some of it tonight.
Officer: You got some hundreds, too? It was supposed to be.
Officer: I got $100 here.
Hughes: That's it? Okay.
Officer: What'd you do for that 100 bucks? I (Bleep) For the 100 bucks.
Hughes: You got your whole life ahead of you.
You can't be out here.
Do you understand how dangerous these streets are? Have you been hurt yet? You have.
Is this what you want for the rest of your life? You can't be standing out on a street corner working the streets in Las Vegas or you're not gonna see an adult life.
You're not.
And the longer you stay in Las Vegas plying this kind of a trade, the more charges you're gonna stack up against you.
And then you're gonna find how difficult this lifestyle is if you haven't already.
You're gonna get beaten by a pimp, you're gonna get raped by a trick, okay? Vice is the least of your worries.
Probably the best thing that could happen to you tonight.
When they come to a brand-new city, she has no work background.
She's got no aspirations to go to school.
She's got no plan when she got here.
She's virtually homeless and she's gotta rely on the people on the street to take care of her.
So she sells her soul to the first person that's willing to give her something that she can hold onto.
And it's usually gonna be the ones that are gonna exploit 'em.
I have never This is my first time.
I've been doing this for a year and a half.
First time getting caught? Hughes: She says she doesn't have a pimp.
You can't walk these streets without having a pimp.
But that's very typical.
They're not gonna dime out their pimp.
The girl that we saw tonight, that's what they're looking for.
Somebody just like that to exploit 100 times over.
And they will.
Deputy Meghan Kowal: I grew up playing softball and I went to college and played ball.
It definitely helps my career because this is definitely a career where you can't let yourself go.
To play softball, it's definitely a team sport.
You know it's a team sport out here.
You have to, you know, be able to work well with other people and you have to, you know, communicate well with other deputies and work together.
(Engine revving, tires squeal) Officer: Oh, no, he didn't.
(Indistinct radio transmission) Kowal: We're up here clearing up another traffic stop and a vehicle had passed us.
Made a u-turn in the median, squealing its tires and blew up some smoke.
So we're gonna try to chase it down.
Switching.
Go ahead, corporal.
(Over radio): Caught up with me? Kowal: Yeah, I'm behind you.
(Over radio): All right, let me know when you're behind me.
I'll light him up.
You can make the initial approach if you want.
Side, then come on around me.
Kowal: 22-63, 10-50.
(Over radio): 22-63.
Kowal: 10-50 on Valrico road.
Florida tags one-echo on a black dodge neon.
(Indistinct radio transmission) How's it going? Kowal: Hey.
Good.
I'm deputy kowal.
Do you have your insurance and registration with you? Um, this actually isn't my car.
It's a friend of mine's car.
Kowal: Okay, why don't you check in the glove box? I just wanted to make sure you were up here before I Kowal: Okay, why don't you check in the glove box? Who's the vehicle belong to? My neighbor.
Kowal: What's his name? Juan.
Kowal: Juan what? Juan what? I don't know his last name to be honest with you.
Kowal: Where's he live at? Right there.
I live off Summersills drive.
He lives on Summersills drive.
Kowal: Okay, why don't you check for insurance in that vehicle? I really would not have done anything like that.
This is my first time driving the car.
Kowal: What do you think you're pulled over for? Uh, probably speeding.
Kowal: Mmm, maybe squealing your tires when you came around that corner? When you made that u-turn on highway 60? Oh, okay, I know what you're talking about.
Kowal: Okay.
I'm real sorry about that.
I don't normally do that.
Um, I don't see insurance in here, ma'am.
Kowal: Okay.
Where you coming from, Adam? I just came from my friend's house.
Kowal: Where's that at? Right there on Westchester.
Kowal: And where you headed now? I'm headed to my house to return the car and go back to my house.
Kowal: Is this your first time driving this vehicle? Yes, ma'am.
Kowal: Okay.
That's why I'm I really didn't want to do anything like this.
Kowal: All right, sit tight.
I didn't want to get stopped in his car.
Kowal: I'm gonna run his driver's license right now, make sure he's valid, doesn't have any warrants.
Would you believe he got a street check for racing on the highway in August of 2010? Officer: Well, that's what he was doing with the initial car when they turned the corner and took off.
Kowal: Yeah.
Officer: So you can cite him for that if you want.
You're just gonna do reckless driving on him and give him a warning on some of the other stuff, and incorporate all his moving violations into one criminal charge.
Kowal: Right.
I'm gonna go finish it.
Adam, why don't you step out for me? All right, here's your information back.
You said this is your friend's vehicle? Yes, ma'am.
Kowal: You think he's gonna be mad that you're ragging on it and spinning tires and speeding and racing? Yes, ma'am.
Kowal: Yeah.
Do you have a vehicle like this? I have a Honda civic.
Kowal: Honda civic? That's why he didn't want me driving tonight 'cause mine is kind of not totally up to date.
Kowal: What's that mean? I have no exhaust on mine.
That's why I got stopped not that long ago.
Kowal: Hmm.
You race a lot? No, I do not.
Kowal: You don't street race at all? No, ma'am.
Kowal: Have you ever street-raced? No, ma'am.
I got in trouble for motorcycles for wheelies and stupid stuff on the street.
Kowal: So you never got in trouble, maybe back in August of last year for street racing? Is that a different Adam? - No, no, I got stopped for (Over radio): - Straight up the 26.
- The dispatcher on 36 at the star motel Kowal: - For street racing? I got stopped because me and a friend of mine, we're side by side, and we Kowal: You got a citation for street racing.
A citation for street racing.
I don't remember that.
I might have.
I'm not gonna lie.
I might have.
Kowal: Yeah.
But I don't remember.
Kowal: It wasn't that long ago.
Okay, listen, I wrote you a citation for reckless driving.
I'm cutting you a break here.
I could have written you a citation for your exhaust, for spinning your tires, for racing, for cutting in and out of the vehicles, okay? I understand.
Kowal: All right, sign here on the x.
You have ten days.
It's a criminal citation, okay? You got ten days.
You know where the plant city courthouse is? Plant city courthouse? Yes, ma'am.
Kowal: Mm-hmm.
Okay.
How much is the ticket? Kowal: It's not.
It's a criminal citation.
I had the option to arrest you tonight, okay? I'm not going to.
I'm just gonna issue you a citation.
Sign right here above my name.
Sorry.
I'm nervous.
- This ain't even my car, and I'm Kowal: - Well, how do you think he's gonna feel knowing that you're racing his vehicle? He's gonna be mad.
I'm not even gonna lie.
Kowal: Yeah.
You think you're ever gonna drive his vehicle again? Probably not.
Kowal: Probably not? And I did a whole bunch of work to this car.
Kowal: What'd you do to it? Uh, it's got an upgraded fuel system, it's got upgraded fuel pump, fuel rail, intake system, a different turbo, a coil pack system, um Kowal: Lots of stuff.
Okay, I need your right thumb.
Right here.
Don't press hard.
Perfect.
There you go.
Drive safely.
Thank you.
Kowal: No racing, no spinning your tires.
Promise.
Kowal: Go easy on it.
Go home.
I will.
Thank you.
Officer: You just made a bunch of people happy on state road 60 'cause they all saw him driving like that, and they were all looking at us.
Kowal: (Chuckles) Right.
Officer: And they definitely knew that we were after him Kowal: That we were coming after him.
We got a lot of complains about that kind of driving.
The racing? That's gonna make the public really happy at least for tonight we took one person and hopefully that one was the last time and won't do that again.