Story of the every other week………
The most interesting headline I saw this week was where a young woman got carjacked. Actually it was a carjack/kidnapping. The suspect actually forced and locked the woman in the trunk of her car!
We wrote in detail about carjackings in the pages of CopTalk. Most of the time, and I repeat “Most of the time” the suspect merely wants your car to get out of the area after having committed another crime, or takes the car for transportation having no interest in taking you with him. (Or her).
The average idiot criminal does not want to risk an added felony charge of kidnapping.
But this case was different, very different. But that’s what you have to be ready for in life. The unexpected. We don’t know what was on the mind of the suspect to commit such a brazen act. Most cops, and most of you as well, could put 2 and 2 together and figure out there was more on this suspect’s mind than a simple carjacking.
Locked in the trunk of her car, and terrified with not knowing what was going to happen to her, the woman remembered she had her cell phone with her and she called 911.
The woman was able to describe the general area where she had been, and what her vehicle looked like to the dispatcher. A whole bunch of cops who heard the call being dispatched probably said “say what?” because this is one of those calls so unusual you can’t help but get determined to catch this idiot because of what he was putting this woman through. Plus, it’s rare when we get the jump on the suspect and know who we’re looking for.
He didn’t know the cops were onto him, and the cops knew exactly where and what to look for.
To make a long story short, the cops find the car, a high speed chase takes place, the suspect crashes and gets taken into custody. The woman is treated for a bump on the head and everyone lives happily ever after.
The victim is the hero in this true story. She kept a cool head, provided valuable information to the dispatcher, and managed to get through the ordeal with only minor injuries.
What if she didn’t have her cell phone with her?
What if it was in the car with the suspect?
What if the suspect had never been caught and took this woman to a remote area and?
What if the suspect had crashed the car so bad the woman had been killed?
What if, what if, what if?
The point is this woman saved her own life with a little piece of plastic and an antenna, and a whole lot of luck.
I get annoyed by people who feel the need to go into a restaurant and disturb others with their petty conversations about nothing, just having to use their cell phone to feel important.
I sit in traffic court and there’s always one person who has to piss off the Judge because their pager or cell phone goes off in the middle of a case.
We’ve all seen the jerk on the road who blabs and blabs and blabs away on the phone causing near miss after near miss on the roadways. I’ve responded to many a rear-end collision where the cell phone was being used while the idiot looking down to dial failed to see traffic stopping in front of them.
Hey, $29.00 a month and we’ll give you 2000 off peak minutes a month for free! I am thinking that anyone who needs to talk 33 and 1/2 hours a month on his or her cell phone seriously needs to “get a life”.
On the other hand, when used for emergencies and URGENT communication, they have their place.
In CopTalk I wrote about the couple jogging and the husband keeled over with a heart attack. The woman’s call to 911 on her cell phone literally saved her husbands life.
I responded to a vehicle rollover off an overpass into a canyon where the vehicle was not visible from the roadway. The driver was trapped in the upside down vehicle and he was pinned inside. Groping around in the dark the driver felt his cell phone and was able to call 911 and tell the dispatcher the last exit he remembered seeing before he had fallen asleep at the wheel. We were able to find him within minutes.
The woman’s story above spells it all out.
*Cell phones used for emergencies, can Save Your Life!
*Cell phones used in a careless manner while driving can KILL you.
If you use your phone for business on the road, get a HANDS FREE set which will help you keep your eyes on the road. You’ll never go wrong by pulling off the roadway to make your call.
*Be considerate of others. Don’t use your phone in public places where others can be disturbed.
*I’m a cop and I am subject to being called out for emergencies at any moment but I NEVER give my cell phone number out to ANYONE. Not even my family. That’s because I never leave it on. If someone needs to get in touch with me that bad, they page me and then I call them back if it’s that important.
The picture of the “family plan” where each member of the family gets a phone makes me laugh. The young teenager trots off to school in the morning with his lime green cell phone hanging from his belt. I imagine him getting a few blocks down the road and getting held up at knifepoint for his phone…
I respond to report after report for the old “I had it in my shopping cart and the next minute it was gone” call. I only turned my back for a minute!
I only left my car unlocked for a minute,
I can’t believe they took my cell phone!
“Where was it Lady?”
Why on the front seat of course!
“Oh”
To me, cell phones are like insurance. When you need them they are worth their weight in gold. When used improperly? I don’t need to preach anymore. Don’t use them improperly!
To the woman who was carjacked?
You are our “Hero of the week”. We’re glad you’re Ok and we commend you for keeping a cool head and thinking fast during your ordeal.
To the cops and dispatchers involved in the chase?
Awesome job people! I know that’s what we get paid for but many people just don’t understand the emotions and stress involved when doing high risk police work. You’re also our hero’s of the week!
And to our devoted fans and supporters let me share this one final thought….
“Oh wait! My phone is ringing…â€
JL
