Chapter 1
The Beginning Police Officers Rene Carter and Tonya Lewis work uniform patrol in sector 3 in East Baltimore, while their girl Rhonda Harris works sector 2. The girls are sitting in the roll call room laughing and joking around before their shift at 1339 hours (1:39 pm). Lieutenant Bruce Watson walks in the roll call room and everyone stands at attention. Lieutenant Watson then gives instructions to his sector supervisors.
“Shift attention supervisors account for your squads.”
“Sir, sector 1 is accounted for.”
“Sir, sector 2 is accounted for.”
“Sir, sector 3 is accounted for.”
“Everyone have a seat; now the fun part, reading out crime from the previous day. We had a double shooting in sector 3 in the 1100 block of Milton Avenue. An unknown black male walked up and opened fire on several males that were standing on the corner. When roll call is over I want the officers assigned to sector 3 to hit the corners hard, jack anybody up standing around and see if we can get any information on the shooters. Also wanted in sector 3 is Bernard Little, he is a male, black, approximately 20 years old. He is wanted for an armed robbery that occurred in the 1200 block of Patterson Park. If you locate this person bring him back to the district so he can be debriefed by our district detectives. Now all toll supervisors take charge of your squads,” said Lieutenant Watson.
After roll call was done all the officers walk out to the district parking and wait for the midnight shift to come in. Officer Rene Carter is assigned to work 334 car, Officer Tonya Lewis is assigned to work 333 car, and Officer Rhonda Harris is assigned to work 321 car. After relieving the midnight shift the girls drive to a local 7-11 convenience store at Sinclair Lane and Edison Highway. While inside the store KGA (police dispatcher) broadcasts a call for an armed person over the radio.
“Beep, Beep, KGA (police dispatch) to sector 3 units there is an armed person in the 2500 block of E. Chase Street. The suspect is a black male 5’10”, who is wearing a white tee-shirt, blue jeans, and black Nike sneakers. The suspect has a gun inside his front pants.
“KGA (police dispatch) to 333 unit.”
“333 unit standing by.”
“Respond to 2500 Chase Street for the armed person.”
“10-4 (officer acknowledges call).”
“KGA (police dispatch) to 334 unit; back up 333 unit.”
“10-4 I’m on the way.”
Officers Rene Carter and Tonya Lewis run and jump into their patrol cars, turning on their lights and siren as they speed to the armed person call.
On the opposite side of town in the downtown office of the Carter and Dawson law firm, James Carter, a highly respected lawyer, is sitting in his office talking to his best friend and partner, Roland Dawson.
“Come on James, we done for the day, let’s go to the Red Roof lounge and have a few drinks. I was told nothing but fine ladies are up in there.”
“I’ll pass Roland. I have a beautiful woman at home who I love to death, so why would I need to see any other women?”
“Boy, you need to stop being hen peck and grow some balls, there is nothing wrong with checking out the honeys.”
“Roland, I feel sorry for you, if you had what I have at home then you would know where I’m coming from. You would know how happy I am to have a beautiful woman who has my back. I hope you experience being in love once in your life.”
“How you know I never been in love, you acting like you know how I been in all my relationships. I forget you have the perfect relationship excuse me."
“Roland, don’t take what I say personal, I’m just saying I’m happy dog. I wish nothing but the best for you."
“I’m sorry James; I didn’t mean to go off on you. So how do you deal with her doing the type of work she does? She has a dangerous job, I would be nervous every time she left the house.”
“I know how dangerous her job, but I have faith that she will be alright and I know my wife is great at doing her job. As long as she wants to do police work I will support her.”
“James, you know if I get her in court on the witness stand on any of my cases I’m going to tear her a new one.”
“Ha, ha, I expect nothing else from you Roland, my wife is a big girl she can handle anything that comes her way.”
Back in East Baltimore, Officers Carter and Lewis arrived on the scene to an armed person call and was searching for the suspect.
“334 unit to KGA (police dispatch) myself and 333 unit are 10-23 (arrive on scene).”
“10-4 334 unit, everyone keep the radio silent of all transmissions until the armed person call is 10-32 (sufficient units on scene).”
Rene Carter and Tonya Lewis are driving slowly down the 2500 block of Chase Street when they observe a black male standing on the opposite side of the street where a large crowd of people are standing on the corner. As the officers continue driving slowly and get closer they notice that the male standing on the opposite side of street fits the description of the suspect. The suspect doesn’t see the officers driving up to him, so he pulls out a 357 magnum handgun from the front of his pants and points it in the direction of the crowd. He then fires several rounds. Upon hearing the shots the large crowd screams and runs in several different directions to get out of harm’s way. Officer Tonya Lewis screams into her radio that the suspect just discharged his weapon.
“333 unit to KGA (police dispatch) I need a 10-16 (back-up) here the suspect just fired several shots into a crowd of people."
“Beep, Beep, signal 13 (officer needs help) to 2500 Chase Street, suspect discharging weapon into crowd of people,” says police dispatch across the radio."
The suspect, now seeing the officers, runs into an alley in the rear even side of 2500 Chase Street. Officers Rene Carter and Tonya Lewis stop and jump out of their vehicles. Then with their weapons drawn, they pursue the suspect on foot. Officer Carter starts sprinting up the alley with Officer Lewis right behind her.
“333 unit to KGA (police dispatch): myself and 334 unit are now in foot pursuit of the suspect.”
“KGA (police dispatch) to all units: 333 unit and 334 unit are in foot pursuit of suspect, any unit that arrives on scene assist units 333 and 334.”
Officers Carter and Lewis continue to chase the suspect on foot when they observe him throw a handgun into the yard of one of the homes in the alley. Officer Lewis stops and retrieves the handgun, while Officer Carter continues pursuing the suspect. Officer Carter catches up with the suspect where she grabs him from behind and slams him to the ground. Officer Carter than pulls out her expandable baton and starts beating the suspect; the suspect starts screaming out loud while curling up in a fetal position, indicating that he gives up. Officer Lewis catches up and puts the suspect’s arms behind his back and then cuffs him. As Officer Carter lifts the suspect off the ground, eight additional police cars pull up fast with their lights and sirens on.
“334 unit to KGA (police dispatch).”
“KGA (police dispatch) standing by.”
“10-32 (sufficient units on scene) 2500 Chase Street.”
“KGA (police dispatch) to all units 10-32 at 2500 Chase Street.”
Officer Lewis pulls out the 357 magnum handgun that she recovers.
"334 unit to KGA: I need a 10-14 (prisoner transport vehicle) to my location.”
“KGA (police dispatch) to 392 unit (transport wagon): respond to 2500 Chase Street.”
“392 unit (transport wagon) I copy I’m on the way.”
“334 unit, I need an NCIC (national crime information center) check on a handgun; it’s a 357 magnum, serial number 120216,” says Officer Carter to police dispatch.”
“KGA (police dispatch) I copy and your handgun is coming back 10-30 (stolen) in Baltimore city under report number 4E10288.”
The prisoner transport wagon arrives on scene and the suspect is transported to Central Booking where he is charged with aggravated assault, possession of a concealed weapon, discharging-with- in the city, and stolen handgun. Officer Lewis submits the handgun to ECU (Evidence Control Unit) as evidence while Officer Carter goes to the station and files charges against the suspect.
