Dragnet - Big Complex

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President Barack Obama. Virginia, we are counting on you. Republicans want to steal enough seats

in Congress to raid the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years,

but you can stop them by voting yes by April 21st. Help put our elections back on a level

playing field and let voters decide not politicians. Vote yes by April 21st.

The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Drag net.

You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a juvenile detail. In the past six weeks,

a junior high school has been broken into three times and extensive damage has been done by

Vandals. Your job investigates.

It was Monday, March 9th. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of juvenile

detail. My partner's Frank Smith, the boss's captain powers. My name's Friday. We're on our way out

from the office. It was 8.32 a.m. when we got to the hostline junior high school. The vice principal's

office. Morning, may I help you? Yes, ma'am. Police officers. We'd like to see them. It's

readily. Oh, yes, you've been here before, haven't you? That's right. Ms. Ridley's expecting you.

Good morning, officer. Come in please. Thank you.

You seem to be getting more than our share of trouble. Yes, ma'am. What is it this time?

Same as before. Little more serious. Capitaria? Yes. Wait until you can see the place. Just

downright vandalism. Food thrown all over on the walls and the floor. But they didn't stop there.

What do you mean? The student's supply store was broken into. In fact, that's where the entrance

was made. Yeah. Berlin charge says that a number of items are missing. What was taken?

Thanks, the students used in school, notebook, pencil, cotton pen. I see. There were a lot of

transportation books taken too. Those the kind of kids use on the buses and street cars. That's

right. Well, they have serial numbers, don't they? Yes, we keep a record of them in the office.

They'll be able to give us a list of the numbers on the missing books. Oh, yes.

What if we take a look at that store room? Surely. It's right next to the office.

I wasn't so sure the last time that I am now. Wait me. God, who's responsible for this?

You got an idea who might have done it? Well, I'm pretty sure it must be a student or a former student.

Why do you say that, Miss Ridley? No, there's the window they entered.

Somebody must have known that this window opened under the store room.

Screens torn here in the windows are broken.

You have somebody special in mind who might have done this? No, it wouldn't be fair to cast a

suspicion on any boy or girl without proof. Well, I've had trouble with any student since we were

here last. Yes? What was wrong, then? During study periods, a group of five boys

were targeting minor disturbances. But it's all been straightened out. I had a talk

with a leader of the group. Found out he wanted to take part in school athletics.

His parents didn't want him to, afraid he might be injured. So I called the men for a

conference. We talked and they finally agreed to let the boy participate in school sports.

That's all there was to it. Happy ending trouble sense. How about the other boys? They weren't

really bad. Without a leader, they just settled down. I'm sure it wasn't any of them.

What if he could tell us if anything has been moved in here? No, this is just the way we found it.

Wonder why they didn't mess this room up too. I don't know. I've been teaching for 20 years

and I'm pretty sure of one thing. What's that now? Children do wrong, but not because they want to be

tough or brave. Usually because they're afraid of something. Most of them are pretty frightened kids.

They need help. Well, we'll buy them. The problem is, what happens to them? They don't get it.

I'm afraid you'll answer that one better than I do. They'll still be around. Yes?

There's flight and adults.

In the cafeteria, we found conditions about the same as we had after the previous acts of

vandalism at the school. The refrigerator had been ransacked. The cartons of milk along with

containers of ice cream and frozen foods had been smacked against the walls and the floor.

The tables had been overturned and the chairs had been thrown around and broken.

The floor was covered with glass. Frank put in a call to late in France and they sent a crew

out to go over the star-room and the cafeteria. Miss Ridley told us that she had already notified

school security. Before we left, she furnished us with a complete list of stolen articles and the

serial numbers for the missing student transportation books. We returned to Georgia Street and met

with Captain Powers. You have pretty serious jupils. Yeah, the kind of stuff it was taking. The

damage done sure points that way. And he helped them, Miss Ridley? Yeah, but she couldn't give us any

names. No teacher pupil problem. Yeah, she mentioned a minor case that had been cleared up.

This is the third time in six weeks for the school, isn't it? Yeah. Kids don't usually travel

very far for these. The others have a good chance at some of them from the school. Well,

not the way it looks if they try to peddle stuff to the other kids, we might be able to get a

lead on them. There's a hitch to that though. What do you mean? Well, Miss Ridley said that she

was going to make an announcement to the student body. Yeah, she's going to tell them to be on the

lookout for the stolen article. Kids that took the stuff from the school, they might lay low for a while.

How much was taken? About $500 for the school supplies. Pretty good home. Yeah.

What do you want to do about it? Well, I was all right with you, Frank, and I'd like to put a stake

out on the school. All right, Gwen. We know the janitors work into the early morning hours on

Fridays. Yeah, so it figures the school must be broken into sometime on Saturday or Sunday.

All right, when do you want to start? It's coming weekend. Okay, I'll arrange a clearance for you with

school security, right? Any more help you need? Let me know. Where we're dead, it must have

something against the cafeteria. Place was a real mess. Yeah. Bad enough first couple of times.

Didn't leave anything on the freezer just trip. Sure doesn't make much sense. I don't know, maybe it does.

What? Each time they hit the cafeteria, right? Yeah, that's right. They didn't tear off the

store room. And threw a few pencil boxes around, it's about all. Yes, but every time food has been

destroyed, that's right. We got a reason for doing it. Yeah. Somebody that can't resist the urge to

eat all the time doesn't like being overweight. So without knowing why they do it, they destroy food.

Mm-hmm. It could be a part of it anyhow. It's only a theory, but it might hold water.

Yeah, that's true, but we don't know if it's a gang or after or just one person.

Another thing, they've broken in three times. Might have been by different kids. Good questions,

all of them. Yeah. That's why you get paid to get the answers.

We kept in contact with Ms. Ridley during the rest of the week, but as far as she knew,

none of the stolen articles showed up. Captain Powers talked with the school security

section of the Board of Education and Frank and I staked out in the school on Saturday and Sunday.

There was no disturbance. We went back the following weekend.

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Saturday passed without trouble. Sunday 7.34 p.m. We were sitting in the vice principal's office.

Right. Yeah. Come on. Right.

All right, son. Come on. Party's over.

Come on. Come on.

Let me go. Let me go. All right. Take it easy for it.

I take it easy. This isn't going to help. Just hold still. What's your name?

Jerry, what's your last name?

Beckle. You've done this before?

Come on, son. Answer me. All right. Let's go.

You're going to put me in jail. We'll see.

I'm not afraid of your cop. There's no reason you should be. Why'd you throw all this food around?

I don't know. You haven't got a reason?

No. She went to a lot of trouble with catching me. It's not too much, son.

You made it easy.

Before leaving the school of Frank Hall School security and notified them of the broken window

and the damage done by Jerry Beckle.

We drove back to Georgia Street to question the subject further.

On the way down he refused to say anything.

The office he told us he lived at 1206 Walnut Street.

Frank went to check central juvenile index.

842 p.m. That's all. I can't tell you anymore.

Now let's get one thing straight, son. You're in trouble.

We'd like to help you, but you've got to play ball with us.

We'll level with you, but you've got to play it the same way.

You got to understand? Yeah.

All right. Now we can't do anything for you unless you want us to.

Unless we know why you do these things, it'll be pretty hard for you to find a way out.

Is that clear?

I guess so.

Well, the only way we can find out is if you tell us the truth.

No.

Yeah, my boy has no previous record.

All right, how about it? You ready to answer our questions now, son?

Sure.

But I won't do any good.

Why do you say that?

Can't change my looks, can you?

Well, why there's no reason to do that? You look healthy to me.

Sure, I'm healthy.

Fat and ugly too.

That's why I had to trouble with Miss Ridley.

Well, now I suppose you tell us about it.

She kicked me out of school.

Why?

Fight.

We fight more.

No, different guys.

Why did you fight?

Called me names.

Well, I go ahead.

It's my fault.

I can't help how I look.

You sure that's why you had to fight?

It wouldn't let me alone.

Suppose you think I'm real good looking, huh?

Son, I told you we level with you.

You're not a ugly kid.

Now, it seems to me you're imagining a lot.

Sure.

Suppose they call me large barrel and witch man, because they imagined it too.

Maybe they got another reason.

Like what?

To need you?

If you didn't let them know it bothered you, they probably wouldn't have kept it up.

They called you names to get you into fights.

I think that's it.

That's what you say.

That's what we believe.

She didn't have to kick me out of school.

How many fights you have there?

I don't know.

Well, you must have some idea.

Why a few?

Miss Ridley talked to you.

Yeah.

She gave you more than one chance, didn't she?

Yeah.

The kids kept after me.

Wouldn't let me alone.

You don't like Miss Ridley, do you?

Why should I?

Is that why you broke into the school?

Maybe.

How many times you go in?

Three.

Did you steal the things from the start room?

Yeah.

Where are they?

You live with your father and mother?

Yeah.

Do you have any brothers or sisters?

Two brothers?

Three sisters.

Well, now when you had the trouble at school, did Miss Ridley talk to your parents?

No.

She didn't get in touch with them at all.

Sure, she tried, but they didn't go in to see her.

Is there any reason why they didn't?

Just didn't go, I saw.

I guess we better go out and have a talk with them this time.

Why?

Well, I'll have to know about this trouble that you're in.

Maybe if we talk to them, we can sort of work this problem out together, don't you think?

I won't do any good.

Why not, son?

I think I'm fat and ugly.

Jerry Becker went on to say that he was now attending the Janssen School.

One of two maintained in the city for juveniles, you have difficulty making adjustments in normal school life.

He also told us that on all three occasions he had been alone when he broke into the hillside school.

We drove out to his home.

It was a small, frame-house, badly in need of repair.

We met his father, Henry Becker.

We told him the reason for our visit.

So you just can't stay out of trouble.

First it's fighting and you get kicked out of school.

Now this makes what's the matter with you anyhow?

I don't know, Dad.

Excuse me, Mr. Becker, but this kind of talk isn't going to get us anywhere.

Your son has a death and the problem needs help.

Sure, he's got a problem.

He's no good.

Never has been.

Never will be.

You want to take him away, I'll tell you.

Sure.

I suppose you're going to give me the answers.

You sound like you think it's my fault he got into this trouble.

Well, you might have helped keep him out of it.

Sure, just follow him around all day.

A night slap is risk when he steps out of line.

You were asked to go over to his school when he had trouble before.

Why didn't you go?

I didn't have the time.

I got to worry about five other kids.

They got to eat.

Can't be taking time away from work just because one of them can't keep his nose clean.

What about your wife?

What do you mean?

Well, couldn't she have gone over to the school?

Why don't you ask her?

She here now?

No.

Gone out, probably at a movie.

She has to have some fun so she leaves me with her kids.

Is there any reason why she couldn't go and talk with Mr. Ridley about your son, Jerry?

Yeah.

She figured it was his own problem.

So he has to learn to fight his own battles.

Well, that's fine when you know what you're fighting.

Your boy doesn't.

It's nothing the matter with him.

That's what you're wrong.

Your son has an inferiority complex about his looks.

Big deal.

That's one of the things that's wrong with him.

You try to tell me he gets into trouble because of the way he feels about his looks.

It's possible that's a good part of it.

You're going to have to go to jail.

I'm afraid he will.

But you put kids on probation sometimes, let the parents look after him.

Yeah, when they have parents.

Couldn't you do that for Jerry?

If you could show the authorities that you'd be responsible for him, it might work out.

I could do that.

There's something more you got to do.

Find time to talk to him.

We took the subject along with a recovered stolen property back to Georgia Street.

The next day, Miss Ridley came down and identified the articles as those taken from the school's

store room.

She said that Jerry Beckle had been enumerous fights before he was dismissed from school.

During her investigation of the disorder, she found that Beckle had provoked several of the

fights.

She went on to say that the subject had been a below-average student showing little interest in academic work.

The petition was filed in Beckle's behalf with a juvenile court.

The petition was sustained and was placed on probation with a Los Angeles County

probation department and allowed to remain in the custody of his parents.

March 31st, 8.06 a.m.

I just picked up the report for you yesterday.

You want to check them over?

Yeah, all right.

Thanks.

I saw the skipper on the way in.

Yeah.

You remember that Austin boy?

Carthief, wasn't he?

Yeah.

Violated his probation picked up again last night.

What was that kid's name on the hillside school case?

That heavy set boy.

One of the thought he was ugly?

Yeah, that's the one.

Beckle or something?

Yeah.

What about him?

I looked here.

The description on this report fits him.

I'm listening to this.

Victim states the subject said there were,

what are you smiling for because I'm so ugly?

That might be.

What's the charge?

Pretty bad this time.

Yeah.

Attempted robbery and shooting.

You are listening to Dragonith, the authentic story of your police force in action.

The robbery and shooting had occurred the previous night about 7.30 p.m.

We checked with the Georgia Street receiving hospital.

We found the victim Linda Kotterley had been treated for a minor flesh wound in the leg.

She'd been shot with a 22 caliber pistol.

The hospital report showed that she'd been released and allowed to return home.

We contacted the officers working the case and checked the reports that had been filed.

We asked if we could talk to the victim.

Frank and I draw out to the address and we were admitted by her sister.

Linda Kotterley was lying on a couch in the front room.

We identified herself and asked her if she'd mind going over the story for us.

I told the other officers all about it.

Yes, we understand that. We saw their report, but we appreciate you're telling us just what happened.

I guess it won't do no harm.

Suppose if more of you know about it, you'll have a better chance to catch a little stinker.

That's right, Linda.

I shouldn't have said that.

Man.

Little stinker. He was a big stinker.

Oh, yeah.

Could have killed me. He gives me cold chills thinking about it.

Would you understand?

I wonder if you'd do something for me.

Yes, ma'am. What's that?

There's an afghan on the sewing machine and the dining room. Would you get it for me?

Sure.

Thank you.

Well, if you tell us the story.

Sure.

Well, you know, I was shot in the leg, right here.

Yes, we know.

First, I thought it was just some kid playing a joke.

Hey, Iron Man.

Well, thank you, Mr. Smith.

Would you just drape it over me gently now?

All right.

That's fine. Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

You said you thought it was a joke when this boy tried to hold you up?

Yeah, he was so young looking.

Couldn't have been more than 15 or 16.

He was sort of chubby.

Didn't look mean at all.

I guess I should have been scared, but I wasn't. I just smiled.

Did he say anything when he approached you?

But it being a hold-up to me?

That's right.

No, he came up to me. He had a gun in his hand.

That's when you smiled.

That's right.

Then what happened?

He's got a real mad look on his face.

Need him to look tough.

Is that when he spoke to you?

How do you know?

Once in a report.

Let's try that forgotten.

Well, then I guess I can skip the part about what he said.

We'd like to hear his exact words if you can remember him.

He said, what are you smiling for because I'm so ugly?

Did you get a good look at him?

Yes, no.

How do you mean that?

Well, I did see him, but I don't remember his face too well.

I know he was young.

Not too good looking, but it's hard to say just what he did look like.

Do you think you'd know him if he ever saw him again?

Oh, my.

It's pretty dark. I'm not sure.

All right. What happened after he spoke to you?

I said no, meaning I didn't think he was ugly.

And they told me to give him my purse.

That's when it happened.

What was that then?

Well, I got scared.

I knew he wasn't fool.

And I screamed and started running.

And then I heard the noise gunfire.

I go ahead.

And I felt a sting on my leg when the bullet hit me.

Kept on running, went past a vacant lot.

Kept screaming.

And then I saw a man across the street open his front door and look out.

I ran up to him, told him I'd been shot.

And he called the police.

When you said this person was chubby, did you mean he was fat?

Well, he was kind of big around the middle.

I mean, his face was sort of round light.

How about his hair?

Was it dark?

Yeah.

Do you notice if it was straight or wavy?

No.

Tell me you got idea who this kid was.

Well, we're not sure.

I don't want to think.

What's that?

A kid should be taught a lesson.

Only one thing to do with him when they're that rotten.

So that and around a little and just forget about him.

Oh, that's the trouble here.

That's what they did to this boy.

Frank and I went back to the office and checked the records

on the petition.

I found the subject's father, Henry Beckle,

was employed at a lumber yard.

We drove down to the place and found him

stacking lumber in the back lot.

What's on your mind this time?

How's Jerry been getting along?

All right, I guess.

Tending school regularly.

As far as I know, having had any bad reports.

What's he been doing nights?

He stays in the house.

He was out once in a while.

There were two late-wife.

Where was he Monday night?

Home.

All night?

Yeah.

How about Tuesday?

After supper, he went out for a while.

Came in early.

Why?

Why's your son been acting lately?

What do you mean?

Does he have any trouble at school?

I told you, I haven't had any bad reports from him.

How about at home?

No trouble.

We're trying to help him.

Well, on as far as you know, he's been in pretty good spirits,

is that right?

Look, you know he's no ball of fire,

but he seems to be happy, you know?

Uh-huh.

What is all this anyway?

We're just checking something out.

Well, the way he asked questions,

it sounds like you think Jerry's in trouble again.

No, we didn't say that.

Well, you don't have to.

I know what you're getting at, and I don't like it.

No reason to get upset.

They're right.

How would you feel?

Jerry's been released to my custody

year as much as telling me I haven't been doing the right thing.

Well, if you're sure of that in your own mind,

you don't have anything to worry about, do you?

Well, I've done what I can,

but I can't watch him all the time.

What's he supposed to have done this time?

We're not sure he's done anything.

He wouldn't be nosing around if he didn't have some reason.

Just something we got to check.

All right.

But if he got off on the wrong foot again,

don't try to pin any tails on me.

I've been doing the right thing,

but I don't mind telling you,

I've never been too sure he would straighten that.

Is that right?

Yeah.

But I'm doing what I can for him.

Yeah, I feed him.

I put clothes on his back.

I put a roof over his head.

What more can I give him?

You own a gun, Mr. Beckle?

Why?

I said the only gun.

Yeah, why?

What kind?

22 pistol?

We drove over to the Janssen School

and we talked to the principal.

We explained to our business

and he told us that Jerry Beckle

hadn't been in school all day.

We drove out to the boys' home.

We met his mother.

She said he wasn't there,

but he'd probably be home about five o'clock.

We went back to the car and waited.

At 4.30 p.m., Henry Beckle returned from work.

He drove into the yard

and we met him at the back door.

So you're here again.

That's right.

Let's go in the house, Beckle.

You want it?

Go ahead.

You want to tell me what this is all about now?

We'd like to talk to Jerry first.

If you want to see him, why didn't you go over to a school?

We did.

Wasn't there today.

Kids up to his old tricks.

Oh, they found you.

This is my wife.

We've met with the trouble.

Jerry again.

He wasn't in school today.

That all.

We should get out of the kitchen

so I could pick supper.

Yeah.

You guys want to come on in to the other room?

All right.

While we're waiting for your son,

I wonder if you get that gun for us.

I don't know why it should.

You got no choice, fella.

In the closet, you said that before.

Now where is it?

Over there.

Where?

It's in that box.

It's a small flat one.

That's what here?

Yeah.

When's the last time you fired this?

I don't know.

It's been quite a while.

What do you think?

Smells like it was fired recently.

But time at Jerry usually get home, Beckle.

We eat at 5.30.

You'll be here by then.

Uh-huh.

You don't have to worry about him not showing up.

He might skip school, but that fat lazy

slab one is a man.

He's twice as much as the other kids.

No wonder he looks like he does.

How long?

Let's go.

Right.

It's one of the working days.

Hurry, son.

Hi.

What do you want?

Fred, we're going to have to take you with us.

Can he eat first?

It won't hurt him any dummy.

He'll look at him.

Looks like a fat toad.

Well, why don't you say it?

All right.

It doesn't make any difference.

You'd like to be rid of me anyway, son.

You all want to hear it OK, I'll tell you.

I shot it.

We took Jerry Beckle down to Georgia Street

for further questioning.

After the outbreak of his home, he quieted down

and refused to say anything more.

We talked to him for an hour

and he finally admitted the whole story.

All right, son, why did you take the gun?

You get some money, I guess.

When I was at the only way you could get it?

I don't know.

You could have gotten a job.

I tried to.

Yeah.

Nobody wanted me.

Well, how many people do you ask for work?

Just one place.

And then you gave up.

That was enough.

I knew I wouldn't get a job.

Did they tell you they wouldn't give you a work?

I didn't have to.

I knew just the way they looked at me.

Do you ever ask your father for money?

Yeah, they gave me and he just read me off.

What do you say to him?

What he always does, I'm fat, lazy.

Not good for anything, but put my feet under the table and eat.

So you decided to get out and rob somebody, huh?

Yeah.

Why'd you shoot at the woman?

I'm not sure.

But she didn't do you any harm, did she?

No.

She made me mad, laughed at me, just like all the rest.

She didn't.

Sure.

Because I'm fat.

She say that?

No.

I could tell what she was thinking.

Because.

People shouldn't laugh at somebody just because they're fat.

No.

They got no right to do that.

Maybe.

But how much did you have?

When you shot it.

The story you have just heard is true.

The names were changed to protect the innocent.

On July 14, trial was held in Department 98,

superior court of the state of California

in and for the County of Los Angeles.

Jerome Howard Beckel was remanded to the juvenile authorities

and placed in the foster home where he was assured

of 24-hour supervision.

One of the conditions of his probation

was that he received psychiatric aid

by a doctor appointed by the court.

Dregnet.

The story of your police force in action

is a presentation of the United States Armed Forces

Radio Service.

President Barack Obama.

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Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress

to raid the next election and wield unchecked power

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I voting yes by April 21st.

Help put our elections back on a level playing field

and let voters decide not politicians.

Vote yes by April 21st.

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But you can stop them by voting yes by April 21st.

Help put our elections back on a level playing field

and let voters decide not politicians.

Vote yes by April 21st.

Paid for by Virginians for fair elections.