03x03 - Log 95: Purse Snatcher

[bunniefuu]

One-Adam-12, handle code 3.

♪♪

One-Adam-12 to 11. Go.

One-Adam-11 to One-Adam-12.

We're at the scene
and will handle.

Three suspects last
seen running eastbound

through the alley from
the 700 block Hudson.

I'll put out a code 4, Adam.

One-Adam-12, roger. We'll
cover from east of Denver.

KME-367.

One-Adam-11, roger.

That's it.

Okay, give me 30 seconds.

Any ID?

Try Ida Sager.

One-Adam-12 to One-Adam-11.

11. Go.

Adam-11, is your
victim's name Ida Sager?

- Ah, that's a roger.
- One-Adam-12, roger. Stand by.

We'll turn it over to
Brinkman for booking.

Well, at least we
picked the right alley.

Uh-huh. Just a hair late.

One-Adam-12, show as
code 6 at 205 Kelmore.

One-Adam-12, roger.

Thanks for taking
the call, Brinkman.

It's my district. I just wish we'd
been closer when the call came down.

We could've been
right on it. I know it.

I've been checking the pin maps. It
looks like you got a problem building up.

We've been spending the last
two weeks on patrol in this area.

- This is number five.
- Did you get a better
description this time?

Nope. They took her from
behind just like all the others.

They clubbed her
down to the sidewalk,

grabbed her purse, and
then split around the corner.

Can't even get a positive ID.

All they saw was three or four
juvies making tracks down the alley.

Did you check F.I. cards?

Till my eyes were raw.

There's a lot of possibles,
but that's where it stops.

What about that juvenile
we busted for purse snatching

around here a
couple of months ago?

He lives five blocks
over on Bunker.

Yeah, Benjie something.
I forgot his last name.

But he'd be in
juvenile hall, anyway.

Benjie Tremain.

I talked to him two weeks
ago after the first purse snatch,

but he's not in the hall
and never has been.

We're old friends...
Benjie and me.

Was that the last
time you saw him?

No, he's out on the
street almost every day.

Let's snoop around and see what
Benjie can tell us about this afternoon.

You go ahead and make
your follow-up at the hospital.

Malloy, I appreciate your help.

It's my area, it's my problem,
and I need all the help I can get,

but you're barking
up the wrong tree.

You don't think he's
good for these P.S.'s?

I'll give you 5-to-1
he's our boy,

but proving it is another thing.

That kid's not about to cop out,

and I can't get
anyone to finger him.

So I got to get him
dirty like you did.

That's not going to be easy.

If he's pulling these capers,

he's doing it with
some experience.

Well, I'll figure a way.

Benjie, cops.

Hello, boys.

What's the matter, Benjie?
You losing your touch?

The name is Mr. Tremain.

Okay, Mr. Tremain,

suppose you turn
around and look at me

while I'm talking to you?

Well, if it isn't my old
friend Officer Malloy?

I thought the smell was getting
kind of strong around here.

Been rousting any
children lately, fuzz?

No rousts, Benjie.

We always get them solid,

like with a purse in
their hands, you know?

Well, it didn't do you much
good now, did it, Officer Malloy?

Here I am, just like I said.

I was out in two days.

Yeah, you're a smooth
customer, all right.

How'd you manage it this time?

Like, you know, I'm one of
those socially-deprived kids.

Had the P.O. crying like a baby.

He's going to help
me get rehabilitated.

Well, I hope he can do the
job. You could use the help.

I need nothing but myself.

Benjie Tremain can take
care of Benjie Tremain.

Yeah, Benjie's smart. He keeps
them all going. Right, Benjie?

Shut up. I'll do
the talking here.

Yeah, sure, Benjie.

You two, over here.

What for? We didn't do nothing.

What have you guys
been up to today?

What's he talking
to Artie about?

What have you been
doing this afternoon?

Oh, I get it.

Split them up and
get different stories.

You cops are too much.

Answer the question.

- I've been right here.
- How long?

- Couple hours.
- By yourself?

No, I got witnesses...
Paul and Artie.

What if I told you
somebody saw you

over on Kelmore
less than an hour ago?

You're crazy.
Nobody saw us. We...

You were what, Benjie?

You were going up that alley
so fast, nobody could see you?

Is that what you
were trying to tell me?

Got nothing to tell you.

Been right here all
afternoon with Artie and Paul.

No, sir. We've been here
pitching nickels all along.

I ain't been on Kelmore
since two days ago.

Has Benjie been with
you the whole time?

Yep. He ain't been
out of my sight.

We've been here
maybe three or four hours.

How come you're
not in school today?

Well, you see, I
have this sore throat.

I ain't got one.

She run off a long time ago.

What about your father?

Does he know what
you've been up to all day?

It don't matter.

My old man and me
got an understanding:

I don't bug him,
and he don't bug me.

You like it that way?

It's okay with me.

All this junk about
families and stuff is a drag.

You really mean that, Benjie?

What are you trying to do,

pull a social worker
routine with me?

I like it, see? Things
couldn't be better.

If you're through,
I got things to do.

Listen to me, Benjie.

One of these days, you're
going to get in so deep,

you're not going to
be able to bail out.

Now, why don't you think
about that for a while?

You got the brain power.

Why don't you put it to work

on something that'll
do you some good?

Will you buzz off? Hey,
things are happening, man.

Do I go, or don't I?

Come on.

Well, their stories
match. Almost too close.

They both say they've
been pitching coins here

for the last couple of hours.

- What about Benjie?
- Same thing.

We might as well kick them loose

if they didn't knock
the old woman over.

We'll never catch
them like this.

Now I know why
Brinkman said not to bother.

Okay, Benjie. That's it for now.

- You mean I can go?
- Yeah. Straight home.

And think about what I told you.

Yeah, sure.

I'll probably toss and turn
all night thinking about it.

What about us?

Yeah. Go ahead.

Wait up, Benjie.

A real leader, isn't he?

Yeah. The only question is,
what's he leading them into?

Good. You're right on time.

I'd say we were an hour early.

What's this about a
special detail today?

Well, you can thank
Brinkman. He talked me into it.

We're going to run a stakeout

on that purse
snatch problem of his.

We know the problem.

How come we're working
it and not Brinkman?

Oh, he'll be there.
It was his idea.

And since it was, he'll
be working the key spot.

"The key spot"? What
kind of a stakeout is this?

Well, I'll admit it
sounds a little unusual,

but I think it's going to work.

Brinkman has what you
might call a creative mind.

What's going on here?
What are we going to do?

You'll, uh, cover
the lady there.

Oh, Brinkman, you're beautiful!

Thank you.

Okay, get the fun and
games out of your system.

We get on the street,

Brinkman's going
to be the pigeon.

Let's make sure he doesn't
get his skull caved in.

Who said stakeouts
were a nice change?

Two hours of nothing.

It shouldn't be too
much longer now.

Q-12 to Q-20.

Q-20. Go.

Q-20, we have three possibles.

Q-20 to Q-12.

I see them now.

Hey, you guys, let's run
home. What do you say?

Q-12, it's going down.

Q-20, I'm rolling.

Let's run!

Don't try it, Benjie!

You stink.

When will you learn, Benjie?

Listen, Officer Malloy, uh...

That is right, isn't it? Malloy?

Yes, sir.

Well, Officer Malloy,

I'd like you to look at it
from my point of view.

I have this business
appointment tonight,

and it's very important.

It must be at
this time of night.

Well, I'm a busy man.

You know, if you take
the kid out to the hall,

they're just going to call me
in two or three hours anyway,

and ask me to come
down and pick him up.

Now, you could save
me a lot of trouble.

Turn him over to me right now.

I'll make sure he's down
there to see those detectives

first thing in the
morning, just like always.

What do you say?

"Just like always,"
huh, Mr. Tremain?

Well, I wouldn't
release Benjie to you,

even if I could.

Now, your boy
is in deep trouble.

Can you understand that?

Oh, come on!

This is just kid stuff.

He'll outgrow it.

He'll outgrow it just
like his old man did.

You know,

I was in a few jams
myself when I was a kid.

Look, purse snatching
is not kid's stuff.

But think about it.
What comes next?

Benjie's 16 years old,

and he's already got a package
as thick as a telephone book.

Now, he needs help,
Mr. Tremain, and he needs it badly.

Just what do you mean by help?

There's nothing
wrong with my kid.

He hasn't lost his marbles.

No, but he's lost his home
life. That is, if he ever had one.

Let's face it, I probably
see more of him

out on the street
than you do at home.

You listen, cop.

I don't need any
lectures from you.

Are you going to turn
Benjie loose or not?

Probation says they'll
detain him at the hall,

and that's where he's going.

Look, Mr. Tremain, I don't
mean to be hard-nosed,

but your boy is in big trouble.

And if something isn't
done, it's going to get worse.

Now, we have our job,
probation has theirs.

We all have a workload
that's out of sight.

Benjie needs more
help than he's getting,

and he needs it from you.

Sure.

Well, Officer Malloy,

that's a typical
cop's mentality...

Always seeing
something that isn't there.

I think it must be some kind
of sickness you guys have.

No, sir. We call it experience.

- How'd the two days off go?
- Okay.

Had a date with a stewardess.

One-Adam-12. One-Adam-12.
Ambulance traffic.

Auto versus ped.

300 block, Cameron
Street. Code 2.

One-Adam-12, roger.

It's close enough. Two blocks.

He came out of nowhere,
Officer. I couldn't help it.

You take the license.
I'll check the pedestrian.

I just couldn't stop in time.
There was nothing I could do.

Driver's license, sir.

Yes. Got it right here.

It's good for four years.

I'm a careful driver, Officer.

I've been driving
for over 30 years,

and I never even got a ticket,
much less a thing like this.

There was nothing I could do.
He ran right out in front of me.

- I couldn't stop.
- Yes, sir.

- Mr. Michaels. Is that right?
- Brian Michaels.

You've got to believe me,
Officer. I couldn't see him.

He's in bad shape.

I got your call on
communications.

I know how you patrol
types hate traffics.

What have you got so far?

Well, ped's in no shape to talk,

but judging from the skid
marks, I'd say he was at fault.

Yeah, the driver says so.

He swears the guy ran out
from between two parked cars.

Okay, we'll take it from here.

I just found this in the
injured man's pocket.

Jaywalking. I checked
the time and date.

He got it a half an hour ago.

The ticket sure didn't
have the educational value

it was supposed to.

All units in the vicinity of
One-Adam-12, One-Adam-12.

A 211 in progress
at the liquor store.

1620 North Gate Avenue.

One-Adam-12, code 3.

- Stop!
- Get away!

Get away from me!

Put out a broadcast. The
suspect's Benjie Tremain.

Reed's chasing him on
foot. I'm going to back him up.

- What about an ambulance?
- I don't think it'll do any
good, but go ahead!

Benjie!

I know you're in there.

Throw the g*n out.

There's no way out,
Benjie. It's a dead-end alley.

Now throw the g*n out!

No, I won't! I won't do it!

He's holed up tight. Any ideas?

We got time on our side.

Maybe talking's
the best way to start.

Well, give it your best.

I don't think he
wants to listen.

Benjie, this is Malloy!
Can you hear me?

I hear. I'm out again, Malloy!

One day this time!

I guess they just don't
like keeping me out there!

I told you, didn't I, Malloy?

All right, Benjie, listen to me!

I want you to come out of there!

We won't hurt you.
Just come on out.

Buzz off! I like it here!

What's it going
to get you, Benjie?

You got nowhere
to go. Think about it.

You said it... nowhere.

I was going nowhere
when I got here!

See if you can get
his father down here.

Maybe he can give us some help.

That guy in the liquor store...

I k*lled him, didn't I?

Come on out, Benjie.
We'll talk about it.

I didn't mean to.

I told him to stay away.

I didn't want to hurt him.

You hear me, Malloy?

He made me do it!

He made me!

He's worked himself into
quite a state, Mr. Tremain.

We'd like for you to try
and talk him into coming out.

Maybe he'll listen to you.

I don't believe this.

It's like a nightmare.

What do I say?

I don't know. You're his father.

Benjie!

Benjie, it's me.

It's Dad.

Can you beat that?

My dear old dad.

Which girlfriend did I drag you
away from this time, Daddy-o?

Benjie, I want you
to come out of there.

What for?

Why not let them k*ll me?

Then I won't be in
your way anymore!

You hear me?

Is that a good idea, Dad?

Don't talk like that!
It's... It's foolish.

Nobody wants you hurt.

You come out, son. Come out.

Son?

Did it take all this to
get you to call me son?

Are you going to pick up
your son at the hall, Dad?

Or are you going to
let me rot like you said?

Rot so your girlfriends
won't get mad

when you pick me up?

What is it, Dad?

Tell them to come and get me!

Then you won't have to
worry about it anymore!

He's not going to listen.

I'll tell you what, Dad.
I got a better idea.

Save them the trouble.

You come and get me.

All right!

You put down that
g*n, and I'll come.

Put down that g*n first.

Yeah, sure. I'll put it down.

I'll put it down, all right.

Hold it. We can't
let you go in there.

Why not?

Condition he's in, we don't
know what he might do.

I'm his father. He's
not going to hurt me.

Maybe not, but we
can't let you risk it.

Don't you think I
know my own son?

Benjie, here I come!

You said you were
going to put that down.

I said I will put it down.

Give me the g*n.

Right now!

I got to do something first.

Did you hear what I said?

I'm going to take it!

I just...

tried to take it away
from him, and he...

He wouldn't let go.

I'll get an ambulance.

Why?

God, why?

It's a little late to
ask God, mister.

Maybe you'd better ask yourself.

Benjie...