Writers Tricks of the Trade Issue 3 Volume 9 | Page 44

police work. Newton Division was known as “Shootin’ Newton”, and was famous for the Black Panther Shootout in 1969, and the SLA Shootout in 1974. While slowly patrolling the skies over downtown LA, my observer and I moni- tored a radio call of a “211 Just Occurred” (Robbery) at a liquor store in Newton’s ar- ea,. The dispatcher gave a brief follow-up description of the suspect and his last di- rection he was seen as he ran from the store. The suspect was a light-skin Black male, approximately 6’5, with red hair. Oh, and to disguise his identity, he wore a red bandana over his face. Attempting to hide your face when you’re that race, that tall and have red hair sounds kind of silly, don’t you think? Just ADC— Another Dumb Criminal) Via the radio, my observer responded that we were en route to provide aerial as- sistance. I banked the aircraft and headed southbound at VNE (pilot talk for maximum allowed airspeed for that particular air- craft) toward the scene, and called LAX ATC for clearance to enter their TCA (controlled airspace). This was necessary due to the fact that our call was going to be under the flight path of the large commercial jets ap- proaching both west runways for landing. Our little helicopter would be no match for a jumbo jet, and a midair collision would make a bad day for everyone. Even if we caused a passenger-filled commercial air- liner to have to make a “go-around” be- cause of our air space intrusion, that would certainly generate an angry phone call to Chief Ed Davis at the least. However, fol- lowing their understanding with FAA, LAX F ALL 2019 ontrollers worked well with us police pilots in our priority needs. When we arrived over the general area of the crime area, ground units were al- ready on the scene. We began a wide orbit several blocks from the incident, searching backyards and for anyone running. It’s amazing how well you can see physical de- scriptions, clothing colors, and certain dis- tinctive patterns of people from 500 feet above the ground, our standard altitude for orbit. It didn’t take long for my observer, who was using gyro-stabilized binoculars, to find the suspect. He was trying to blend in with the people on the street. Finding him was easy since we could not see another 6’5” Black male with red hair and a red bandana neckerchief tied around his neck…at least not for miles around in our bird’s eye view. While the observer was directing ground units to close in and make an arrest, I thought that I could buy some time and maybe not cause the suspect run. That meant a foot pursuit for our officers. I acti- vated the PA system and yelled, “You’re Under Arrest! Get On The Ground”! Wow! Was I surprised when our sus- pect not only complied, but six to seven other people also immediately dropped to the ground with their arms prone, out to their sides. (Hmmm, maybe I should have been a little more specific to my person-of- interest.) Either I had possibly just located sever- al crime suspects and cracked a bunch of unsolved cases, or these individuals had been through the process before. Whatever caused all of those people to drop, when the P AGE 40 W RITERS ’ T RICKS OF THE T RADE