Dragnet 1967 (1967) s01e11 Episode Script
The Shooting
1
[Friday Narrating]
This is the city— Los Angeles, California.
It's a good place to live.
We try to keep it that way.
It's a full-time job.
Every 60 seconds,
a crime is committed in Los Angeles.
In the Los Angeles Police Department's
Communications Center,
the telephone rings every 20 seconds,
24 hours a day.
Of the three million people
who live in Los Angeles,
35,000 of them are known rapists,
murderers and thieves.
They outnumber the police force 7-to-1.
Every time a policeman answers a call,
he takes a calculated risk.
There'll always be somebody out there
who doesn't like him
and who might have a gun.
That's where I come in.
I carry a badge.
It was Tuesday, April 28.
It was overcast in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch
out of Homicide Division.
The boss is Captain Hugh Brown.
My partner's Bill Gannon.
My name's Friday.
We were finishing up on the paperwork
on a wife-beating case.
The wife refused to sign a complaint
against her husband.
In the state of California,
wife-beating is a felony
and is considered
a crime against the state.
The case would be submitted
to the district attorney.
[Man Narrating]
The story you are about to see is true.
The names have been changed
to protect the innocent.
Stomach's sure upset.
Then why are you
rubbing your head?
I got a headache too.
What's wrong?
I got a headache
and a stomachache.
I know. You just told me.
Something you ate?
Wife made her New England
boiled dinner last night.
Just never agrees with me.
Oh. Is that so?
- She always puts way too much curry powder in it.
- Curry powder in a New England boiled dinner?
Something Eileen's mother taught her.
Anyway, you're not married, Joe.
You wouldn't understand.
I don't see why you just don't
tell her you don't like it.
Like I said, Joe,
you wouldn't understand.
- [Beeping]
- Hotshot.
- [Woman] They killed him! They killed him!
- [ Man] Just take it easy, lady.
- [Woman] He's bleeding! He's dying!
- [ Man] What's the address, lady?
- [Woman] Olive and Main, on the corner.
- [ Man] Ma'am, who's the victim? Who got shot?
[Woman]A policeman!
A policeman! They killed him!
[Friday Narrating]
8:33 a.m. We checked out
the Homicide call car
and headed for the scene
of the shooting, Code 3.
An officer-involved shooting is one
of the many investigative responsibilities
of the Homicide Division.
Another unit and an ambulance
were already on the way.
[Siren Wailing]
8:46 a.m. Officer Dave Roberts
had been shot in the stomach
at point-blank range
with a shotgun.
He was holding his life
in his hands.
How is he?
Pretty bad.
Getting shot is a risk
every policeman takes.
It comes with the badge.
For Officer Dave Roberts,
it happened early.
He was a new man—
18 months on the job.
Witnesses gave conflicting reports
of the shooting.
Two of them agreed on one thing,
however— there were two men.
[Siren Wailing]
They were driving a green sedan.
They couldn't describe the men,
but they thought the car was either
an old-model Mercury or Plymouth.
9:36 a.m.
Bill and I returned to Homicide.
When we got there,
Sergeant Al Vietti from Robbery Division
was waiting for us.
Got something here might tie in
with the Roberts shooting.
Yeah, Al.
Liquor store two blocks away
was knocked over just a few minutes
before Roberts was gunned down.
Liquor store clerk got a fast look
at 'em before they slugged him.
What do ya got?
Two men, Caucasian.
Number one:
about 6'3", heavyset.
Number two:
5'9", short, thin.
Mutt and Jeff.
Both of them were wearing
dark sport jackets, dark slacks,
no hats.
What's the tie-in, Al?
Big one had some kind
of a rig under his coat.
Swung a sawed-off shotgun
out from under his armpit.
Latent Prints and a photog
are on the way.
Yes, sir.
They turned
that green sedan.
[Friday Narrating]
9:46 a.m. It took us 10 minutes to reach the
intersection of Whitsett and Flower Streets,
where the green sedan
had been located.
We talked with Wayne Wolfer
from S.I.D.
So far he had not come up
with any physical evidence
in the green sedan
that might lead us
to the men who drove the car.
We spoke to Officer Bill Walmsley
from Latent Prints.
Looks like it's been wiped clean.
Nothing so far, Joe.
We'll take it into the garage.
It doesn't look too promising.
Right. Thanks, Bill.
Anything on the plate?
My partner's checking
with D.H.Q. now, Sergeant.
Anybody in the area see
who abandoned the car?
No, sir. We checked with all of 'em.
Busy place.
Somebody must have seen it.
Let's talk to some of 'em.
You take this side of the street.
I'll take the other.
Sergeant?
Plate's clouded.
Belongs on a '57 Ford.
[Friday Narrating]
10:34 a.m. I had three stores left
on my side of the street.
One of them was a cut-rate drugstore.
I talked to one of the clerks on duty.
Yeah, I think I remember seeing 'em,
just coming into the store
on my way to work.
- The green Merc
over there in the corner. Two guys.
- What'd they look like?
- Big, brawny guy. Short, little guy.
- Do you remember how they were dressed?
- Both of them had on sport coats.
- Could you tell what color hair they had?
Eyes, anything like that?
No, I was too far away.
Only reason I noticed 'em at all
was because they got out of the Merc,
hopped into a dark blue Chevy and drove off.
Do you remember the license number,
by any chance?
- Not by no chance.
I didn't pay that much attention.
- What year was the Chevrolet?
Uh, '66.
Anything else you can add?
No. As I say, something like this happens,
usually you don't pay much attention.
Is this about that cop
that got shot a couple of blocks over?
We heard some cop got shot.
Yes, sir. That's right.
You guys really pull out all the stops
when a cop gets it, don't you?
You really drop everything else.
No, sir, we don't drop everything else,
but we try to get to whoever did it fast.
- Brothers in blue and all that, huh?
- Let me ask you something.
- Yeah?
- Those men shot down
an armed policeman.
- Yeah, they did.
- Do you think they'd hesitate
to shoot down an unarmed citizen?
[Friday Narrating]
1 1:05 a.m. Bill and I returned
to the Police Administration Building.
We put out an A. P. B.
on the blue Chevrolet,
along with what little description we had
of the men who shot Officer Dave Roberts.
Friday? Gannon?
Wanna come in a minute?
You do any good out there?
They dropped the green Mercury
for a blue Chevy.
Plate's clouded.
Belongs on a '57 Ford.
That's all we got.
Nothing else?
That's the whole enchilada. If we could
just turn somebody who could eyeball 'em.
You got one, but I don't know
if he's gonna live long enough to help.
Just talked to Doc Anderson
over at Central Receiving.
They dug an ounce and a quarter
of lead out of Roberts.
Two hundred seventy-six
number-six pellets
and the fiber wadding.
It's still touch-and-go.
What's he doing still alive?
Just got back from the Valley.
Talked to Roberts's wife.
- How is she taking it?
- Pretty hard. She's five months pregnant.
You know that?
No, sir. If we just had
a half-decent I.D. on those two punks.
Any chance we can talk to Roberts?
We'll know in the next 72 hours.
[Friday Narrating]
Thursday, April 30. Three days went by.
Bill and I called all of our informants
to see if we could dig up a lead
on the two suspects.
We had no luck.
The blue Chevrolet and the men
who were driving it had disappeared.
Anything from your informants?
Nothing so far.
That '57 plate on the Mercury
was stolen from Reno.
Plate checks out
to a Gunnison Brothers
junkyard in Elko.
Yeah.
Oh, and one more thing.
Central Receiving just called.
They're not too crazy
about the idea.
Yes, sir.
You can have one minute
with Roberts.
[Friday Narrating]
2:33 p.m. We drove over
to Central Receiving Hospital
to see Officer Dave Roberts.
We spoke to Dr. Anderson
in the "P" and "F" ward.
He told us he didn't know
how much good it would do
to try and talk to Roberts,
but, in any event,
to make it short.
I told your captain,
no more than a minute.
Right, Doc.
Roberts? How you doin'?
Not so hot right now,
Friday.
Just take it easy, Dave.
We won't be here long.
It's no use.
I know what you're after.
You wanna hear about
those two that gunned me.
It's no good.
I'm just blank.
- Tell us what you can, Dave.
- They were in the car.
And I—I remember checking
the hot sheet.
It was no make.
I walked up to them.
The car was green.
There was no make.
Big guy was dropping pills
and chasing them with wine.
I told both men
to get out of the car.
Big guy swung something
from under his coat.
I-I thought it was another bottle.
It looked like it.
That's all I can pull up.
I'm just blank after that, Joe.
Can you describe the men?
Did they use any names?
I parked
and walked over.
Car was green, and there was no—
Friday?
The human mind is a delicate thing.
He may never remember it.
- You mean he's lost his memory?
- It may come back in a few weeks,
a few years. Nobody knows.
The shock of getting shot like that
was a big trauma, a frightening thing.
The conscious mind
doesn't want to think about it
and blocks it out.
It's something like amnesia.
May come back, it may not.
You remember Widdon,
Burglary Division?
Three, four years ago,
he took a. 45 slug in the stomach.
Can't even remember his name.
- What are Roberts's chances otherwise?
- He's past the critical stage.
- I see.
- We saved his life, but not him.
[Friday Narrating]
Thursday, October 23, 9:00 a.m.
Six months went by.
We had no more to go on
than we had the day
Officer Roberts got shot.
It became a habit to check
all Teletypes and robbery A. P. B. 's
every morning,
looking for anyone who came close
to fitting the description of the suspects
in the shooting.
We finally came across one report
that looked good.
We checked with Captain Brown.
We told him what we had.
Two men had robbed a liquor store
in Pasadena the previous night.
One was tall, the other was short.
They had used a swing-out shotgun.
- You talked to Robbery Detail out there?
- Yes. Sergeant James says they've got
a witness who got a good look at 'em.
- You better pray for rain on this one.
- How's that, Skipper?
- I just checked the hospital
a few minutes ago.
- Yes, sir.
You're gonna need that eyeball witness.
Roberts still can't help you.
[Friday Narrating]
Bill and I, along with police artist
Hector Garcia, drove out to Pasadena.
It was decided we would try
for composite drawings of the suspects.
Sergeant James of the Pasadena
Police Department Robbery Detail
told us he would meet us
at the scene of the holdup.
10:05 a.m.
Mr. Wilson.
Sergeant Friday,
Officer Gannon, L.A.P.D.
How do you do, sir?
You people working
on this case too?
Yes, sir. That's right.
Now, this is police artist
Hector Garcia.
If you'll describe the men
who held you up, Garcia here's
gonna try to draw 'em.
I'll do my best, Sergeant.
All right, Mr. Wilson.
We have a suspect number one
and a suspect number two.
Let's begin with suspect number one.
Let's start with the shape of his head.
Understand them two might be
the ones that shot that policeman.
- Yes, sir. That's right.
- Been held up two times
since I bought this place.
You boys nailed 'em both times.
That's why I want to do this good.
All right, sir.
All right, sir, Mr. Police Artist.
Let's go get 'em.
You're good, Mr. Artist.
That's them to a "T."
No doubt about it.
You remember
anything they said, Mr. Wilson?
They mention any names?
- No, they didn't say much. No reason to.
- Now, how's that, sir?
That shotgun, it did
all the talking necessary.
[Friday Narrating]
12: 15 p.m. Bill and I put out a request
for a supplementary M. O. bulletin
with the composite drawings
of the two suspects.
It would be sent to all
law enforcement agencies.
Four-by-five prints of the composites
were made up by the photo lab.
We drove over to Central Receiving.
We knew it was an outside chance,
but we wanted to show the drawings
to Officer Dave Roberts
to confirm the fact that one of them
was the man who had shot him.
It's no good, Joe. These pictures
don't mean a thing to me.
- You're sure?
- I'm not sure who's president.
[Friday Narrating]
1:30 p.m. We went back downtown
to meet with Sergeant Al Vietti
who had shown the composite drawings
of the two suspects to Pete Stuart,
the owner of the liquor store
that had been robbed
the day Roberts was shot.
No good, Joe. Showed the composites to Stuart,
said he couldn't make 'em from the drawings.
- He doesn't think they look like 'em?
- No. Said he couldn't be sure
from drawings of them.
- Wants to see some photographs.
- So do we.
Said he could definitely spot 'em
from photos, but not these.
Well, right now we're
right back where we started—
standing in the middle
of a tall hole.
Yep, we got two faces
and no names to go with 'em.
[Friday Narrating]
Tuesday, January 1 6, 9:30 p.m.
For three months, Bill and I spent
whatever time we could squeeze out
down in R&I.
We started to go through every package
of all Mutt and Jeff suspects known
to operate with a shotgun.
It was an endless job,
and so far, we had gotten nowhere.
You two still trying to read
every package in R&I?
We might get lucky.
You might figure a way
to french fry an ice cube too.
- Those two gotta be someplace.
- Checked on Roberts late this afternoon.
- He goes home tomorrow,
if he can find his way.
- It's a rotten shame.
[Phone Rings]
Homicide. Friday.
Who? Yeah.
Yeah, this is Friday, Virg.
You did? Well, have you got
a couple of names for me?
Where? Where?
Oh, Virg, we could find a place
closer than that, couldn't we?
All right. What time? Right.
I got it. I'll see you then.
One of my informants.
- Anything?
- Says he thinks he's got a line
on our Mutt and Jeff boys.
- He won't tell me over the phone.
He wants to meet tomorrow morning.
- Where?
Fifty-yard line at the Coliseum.
[Friday Narrating]
10:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 1 7.
I drove out to Exposition Park
to the Los Angeles Coliseum
to meet with Virgil Hicks.
When I arrived,
he was seated in the stands, waiting.
We both made our way
to the center of the playing field
at the 50-yard line.
Big Joe.
How are you, Virg?
6'2" and even, I guess.
What do you got for us, Virg?
Two names—
Roger Kensington and Harry Johnson.
Tell me about 'em.
Real heavy, Big Joe.
Both of 'em born
with their mouths on upside down.
Little guy and a big guy.
- Why'd you come to me with them, Virg?
- I was having a glass of port
in one of the joints down on Fifth.
They were throwing money
around pretty good.
Go on.
The big one, Kensington,
keeps talking about Big Mama.
- What do you mean, "Big Mama"?
- He said, "Big Mama put that cop down for good."
Then he said,
"And, boy, is she built.
Twelve, twelve, twelve.
Both barrels of her."
Yeah?
Even I know he's talking
about a shotgun now.
I put the one and one you give me
together, and I figure it might be
them two that shot the cop.
Am I right?
Sounds good, Virg.
You sure about those names now?
Kensington and Johnson?
Sure as sure.
Followed them to their hotel.
Gave the last of my bottle to the clerk,
and he give me their names.
Told him I used to work
with 'em back in Cincy.
You don't think you burned it?
No, sir, Big Joe.
This clerk was three sheets to the wind
by the time I left him.
- What's the name of the hotel?
- The Adobe Red, down on Crocker.
Right, Virg, and thanks.
Now, you take care of yourself.
- One thing more you oughta know.
- Yeah? What's that?
- The desk clerk at the Adobe,
he told me something.
- Yeah?
- About the shotgun the big guy's got.
- What about it?
He sleeps with it, in his bed!
[Friday Narrating]
1 1: 15 a.m. We went downstairs
to R&I
and pulled the packages
on Kensington and Johnson.
The mug shots were almost
a perfect match to the composites.
Bill called Al Vietti
in Robbery Division
and filled him in.
Vietti said he and his partner, Slats Henry,
would show the mug shots
to the owner of the Pasadena liquor store
that was held up.
Bill and I drove over
to Pete Stuart's liquor store,
the one that was robbed minutes before
Officer Dave Roberts had been shot down.
This one and this one.
No doubt about it.
It's like I told you,
show me an actual picture,
and I'll pick 'em out every time.
- You sure, Mr. Stuart?
- Positive. Couldn't miss 'em.
The drawings were good, I'll admit that,
but that old photo will do it every time.
Thank you, Mr. Stuart.
You've been a big help.
Haven't seen anything in the papers lately
about that officer that's been shot.
How's he doing?
- Not too good, sir.
- Yeah.
Some time ago I read where
his wife was gonna have a baby.
- You know, Sergeant, no matter
how much we pay you people—
- Yes, sir?
It ain't enough.
[Friday Narrating]
12:20 p.m. We returned to the office
and filled Captain Brown in.
Al Vietti and his partner
had returned from Pasadena.
Wilson gave us a positive make.
Kensington and Johnson are
the two who held him up.
Howe says you and Henry roll
with Friday and Gannon.
Yes, sir.
Bring 'em in.
[Friday Narrating]
12:27 p.m.
We went downstairs to the property section
and checked out a 12-gauge Ithaca shotgun.
We also drew five rounds
of 12-gauge Magnum load
double-ought buckshot.
Flinch, and you'll be chasing
your head down Fifth Street.
Get those hands out
where I can see 'em
and climb out of that bed!
Move! Police officers.
You're under arrest.
Get your hands up against that wall,
and get your feet back.
[Handcuffs Ratcheting]
Come on!
Come on.
- How 'bout letting me
wipe the soap off my face?
- Why? You look good.
- Why the roust? What's the charge?
- Sleeping with a shotgun will do.
[Friday Narrating]
3:30 p.m. Johnson and Kensington
were booked for 2 1 1 P. C.,
robbery in the first degree.
Two one-dollar rolls of Benzedrine tablets
were found in their possession,
along with a fifth
of inexpensive port wine.
Confronted with the positive identification
provided by the liquor store owners,
they admitted their guilt
for the robberies.
We checked back in
with Captain Brown.
Kensington and Johnson steadfastly denied
having anything to do with the shooting
of Officer Dave Roberts.
That was Mert Howe.
Robbery's got 'em for three other jobs
besides L.A. and Pasadena.
- Yes, sir.
- Unless you can come up with
an eyeball witness on the shooting,
you got a pound of air
and that's all.
It's too bad Roberts himself
can't finger 'em.
They don't know that he can't.
Well, he's home on recuperative leave.
He's up and around.
Memory's still faded out.
Maybe it'll work.
It's got to.
[Friday Narrating]
Wednesday, January 1 7, 4: 15 p.m.
Look here, Harry.
They sent in the first team.
All right, tunnel mouth.
Let's all save time.
Last April, a police officer was shot
at Olive and Main. We think you
and that shotgun did it.
- He scare you, Roger? He scares me.
- He makes me sick.
You've been rousting me
ever since I was a kid.
You and every cop
from here to Kansas City,
year after year.
If it wasn't for prison food,
you'd starve to death.
You haven't been out of the joint
for more than two or three years
in your entire life.
I'll be out again in 26 months,
brown eyes. Stay home nights.
You listen to me, punk.
I've handled jaywalkers
that were tougher than you.
When I get out,
I'm gonna waste you.
No reason to work up a sweat, Roger.
They told us our rights.
We don't even have to talk to 'em.
All right. I'll talk to you, Johnson.
You were born in Harlan, Kentucky.
Your father was a housepainter
killed in the war. Your mother and
your sister brought you out here.
You went to school in Torrance.
You got expelled for throwing a punch
at your math teacher.
The army took you during the Korean War.
They didn't want you.
They shoved you out on a Section 8.
- For seven years now,
you've been in jail or just getting out.
- I do hope you'll write my book.
Now, your buddy here,
he's really big time.
Three states want him
for parole violation,
two for armed robbery
and one for statutory rape—
that's in Kansas.
- You remember her name, don't you?
- What if I don't?
- You should. She was your sister's daughter.
- All right. Let's take it back about a year.
April 14, Wednesday afternoon.
You were out on bail,
pending trial in Hampstead, Nevada,
on felony assault with G.B.I.
On April 22, you stole
a 1960 Mercury sedan from in front
of a drugstore on Clinton Street.
You drove to Elko and lifted a plate
from the Gunnison Brothers junkyard.
Tuesday, April 28. You parked
your clean car, the blue Chevrolet,
at Whitsett and Flower.
You drove the Mercury over
to Olive and Main. You staked out
the Stuart Liquor Store.
While you waited for the owner to show up,
you sat in the car dropping pills
and chasing 'em with cheap port wine.
The store opened up. You knocked
it over, you got back in the car.
Johnson, you were driving.
Kensington, you were in the backseat
with a shotgun cradled under your arm,
hanging on this bent tablespoon.
Everything was going just fine.
You kept dropping bennies
and swallowing wine.
This black-and-white unit spotted you
and pulled you over. It parked behind you.
Officer Dave Roberts walked up to your car
and told you to get out.
Then, Kensington, you broke out
in a rash of real bravery.
You swung this shotgun
out from under your coat,
stuck it in Roberts's middle,
pulled the trigger
and slammed 276 pellets
into his stomach.
Johnson, you dropped the car into gear
and dug out, leaving that officer there
with his life draining out in the gutter.
That's a good story, cop,
but you need a witness,
and that you ain't got.
Ain't we?
You told me he died.
He should have.
- You heard him. He's the one that did it.
That shotgun fits him, not me!
- Shut up!
I'll tell 'em to roll the tape.
Thanks, Dave.
Joe?
Yeah?
You know something?
What's that, Dave?
I still don't remember them.
You don't have to now, Dave.
[Narrator]
The story you have just seen is true.
The names were changed
to protect the innocent.
On March 23,
trial was held in Department 186,
Superior Court of the State of California,
in and for the County of Los Angeles.
In a moment, the results of that trial.
The suspects were found guilty
on a charge of assault
with intent to commit murder.
They were also convicted
on three counts of robbery
in the first degree.
Assault with intent to commit murder
is punishable by imprisonment
in the state prison
for not less than one
nor more than 14 years.
Robbery in the first degree is punishable
by imprisonment in the state prison
for not less than five years.
[Friday Narrating]
This is the city— Los Angeles, California.
It's a good place to live.
We try to keep it that way.
It's a full-time job.
Every 60 seconds,
a crime is committed in Los Angeles.
In the Los Angeles Police Department's
Communications Center,
the telephone rings every 20 seconds,
24 hours a day.
Of the three million people
who live in Los Angeles,
35,000 of them are known rapists,
murderers and thieves.
They outnumber the police force 7-to-1.
Every time a policeman answers a call,
he takes a calculated risk.
There'll always be somebody out there
who doesn't like him
and who might have a gun.
That's where I come in.
I carry a badge.
It was Tuesday, April 28.
It was overcast in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch
out of Homicide Division.
The boss is Captain Hugh Brown.
My partner's Bill Gannon.
My name's Friday.
We were finishing up on the paperwork
on a wife-beating case.
The wife refused to sign a complaint
against her husband.
In the state of California,
wife-beating is a felony
and is considered
a crime against the state.
The case would be submitted
to the district attorney.
[Man Narrating]
The story you are about to see is true.
The names have been changed
to protect the innocent.
Stomach's sure upset.
Then why are you
rubbing your head?
I got a headache too.
What's wrong?
I got a headache
and a stomachache.
I know. You just told me.
Something you ate?
Wife made her New England
boiled dinner last night.
Just never agrees with me.
Oh. Is that so?
- She always puts way too much curry powder in it.
- Curry powder in a New England boiled dinner?
Something Eileen's mother taught her.
Anyway, you're not married, Joe.
You wouldn't understand.
I don't see why you just don't
tell her you don't like it.
Like I said, Joe,
you wouldn't understand.
- [Beeping]
- Hotshot.
- [Woman] They killed him! They killed him!
- [ Man] Just take it easy, lady.
- [Woman] He's bleeding! He's dying!
- [ Man] What's the address, lady?
- [Woman] Olive and Main, on the corner.
- [ Man] Ma'am, who's the victim? Who got shot?
[Woman]A policeman!
A policeman! They killed him!
[Friday Narrating]
8:33 a.m. We checked out
the Homicide call car
and headed for the scene
of the shooting, Code 3.
An officer-involved shooting is one
of the many investigative responsibilities
of the Homicide Division.
Another unit and an ambulance
were already on the way.
[Siren Wailing]
8:46 a.m. Officer Dave Roberts
had been shot in the stomach
at point-blank range
with a shotgun.
He was holding his life
in his hands.
How is he?
Pretty bad.
Getting shot is a risk
every policeman takes.
It comes with the badge.
For Officer Dave Roberts,
it happened early.
He was a new man—
18 months on the job.
Witnesses gave conflicting reports
of the shooting.
Two of them agreed on one thing,
however— there were two men.
[Siren Wailing]
They were driving a green sedan.
They couldn't describe the men,
but they thought the car was either
an old-model Mercury or Plymouth.
9:36 a.m.
Bill and I returned to Homicide.
When we got there,
Sergeant Al Vietti from Robbery Division
was waiting for us.
Got something here might tie in
with the Roberts shooting.
Yeah, Al.
Liquor store two blocks away
was knocked over just a few minutes
before Roberts was gunned down.
Liquor store clerk got a fast look
at 'em before they slugged him.
What do ya got?
Two men, Caucasian.
Number one:
about 6'3", heavyset.
Number two:
5'9", short, thin.
Mutt and Jeff.
Both of them were wearing
dark sport jackets, dark slacks,
no hats.
What's the tie-in, Al?
Big one had some kind
of a rig under his coat.
Swung a sawed-off shotgun
out from under his armpit.
Latent Prints and a photog
are on the way.
Yes, sir.
They turned
that green sedan.
[Friday Narrating]
9:46 a.m. It took us 10 minutes to reach the
intersection of Whitsett and Flower Streets,
where the green sedan
had been located.
We talked with Wayne Wolfer
from S.I.D.
So far he had not come up
with any physical evidence
in the green sedan
that might lead us
to the men who drove the car.
We spoke to Officer Bill Walmsley
from Latent Prints.
Looks like it's been wiped clean.
Nothing so far, Joe.
We'll take it into the garage.
It doesn't look too promising.
Right. Thanks, Bill.
Anything on the plate?
My partner's checking
with D.H.Q. now, Sergeant.
Anybody in the area see
who abandoned the car?
No, sir. We checked with all of 'em.
Busy place.
Somebody must have seen it.
Let's talk to some of 'em.
You take this side of the street.
I'll take the other.
Sergeant?
Plate's clouded.
Belongs on a '57 Ford.
[Friday Narrating]
10:34 a.m. I had three stores left
on my side of the street.
One of them was a cut-rate drugstore.
I talked to one of the clerks on duty.
Yeah, I think I remember seeing 'em,
just coming into the store
on my way to work.
- The green Merc
over there in the corner. Two guys.
- What'd they look like?
- Big, brawny guy. Short, little guy.
- Do you remember how they were dressed?
- Both of them had on sport coats.
- Could you tell what color hair they had?
Eyes, anything like that?
No, I was too far away.
Only reason I noticed 'em at all
was because they got out of the Merc,
hopped into a dark blue Chevy and drove off.
Do you remember the license number,
by any chance?
- Not by no chance.
I didn't pay that much attention.
- What year was the Chevrolet?
Uh, '66.
Anything else you can add?
No. As I say, something like this happens,
usually you don't pay much attention.
Is this about that cop
that got shot a couple of blocks over?
We heard some cop got shot.
Yes, sir. That's right.
You guys really pull out all the stops
when a cop gets it, don't you?
You really drop everything else.
No, sir, we don't drop everything else,
but we try to get to whoever did it fast.
- Brothers in blue and all that, huh?
- Let me ask you something.
- Yeah?
- Those men shot down
an armed policeman.
- Yeah, they did.
- Do you think they'd hesitate
to shoot down an unarmed citizen?
[Friday Narrating]
1 1:05 a.m. Bill and I returned
to the Police Administration Building.
We put out an A. P. B.
on the blue Chevrolet,
along with what little description we had
of the men who shot Officer Dave Roberts.
Friday? Gannon?
Wanna come in a minute?
You do any good out there?
They dropped the green Mercury
for a blue Chevy.
Plate's clouded.
Belongs on a '57 Ford.
That's all we got.
Nothing else?
That's the whole enchilada. If we could
just turn somebody who could eyeball 'em.
You got one, but I don't know
if he's gonna live long enough to help.
Just talked to Doc Anderson
over at Central Receiving.
They dug an ounce and a quarter
of lead out of Roberts.
Two hundred seventy-six
number-six pellets
and the fiber wadding.
It's still touch-and-go.
What's he doing still alive?
Just got back from the Valley.
Talked to Roberts's wife.
- How is she taking it?
- Pretty hard. She's five months pregnant.
You know that?
No, sir. If we just had
a half-decent I.D. on those two punks.
Any chance we can talk to Roberts?
We'll know in the next 72 hours.
[Friday Narrating]
Thursday, April 30. Three days went by.
Bill and I called all of our informants
to see if we could dig up a lead
on the two suspects.
We had no luck.
The blue Chevrolet and the men
who were driving it had disappeared.
Anything from your informants?
Nothing so far.
That '57 plate on the Mercury
was stolen from Reno.
Plate checks out
to a Gunnison Brothers
junkyard in Elko.
Yeah.
Oh, and one more thing.
Central Receiving just called.
They're not too crazy
about the idea.
Yes, sir.
You can have one minute
with Roberts.
[Friday Narrating]
2:33 p.m. We drove over
to Central Receiving Hospital
to see Officer Dave Roberts.
We spoke to Dr. Anderson
in the "P" and "F" ward.
He told us he didn't know
how much good it would do
to try and talk to Roberts,
but, in any event,
to make it short.
I told your captain,
no more than a minute.
Right, Doc.
Roberts? How you doin'?
Not so hot right now,
Friday.
Just take it easy, Dave.
We won't be here long.
It's no use.
I know what you're after.
You wanna hear about
those two that gunned me.
It's no good.
I'm just blank.
- Tell us what you can, Dave.
- They were in the car.
And I—I remember checking
the hot sheet.
It was no make.
I walked up to them.
The car was green.
There was no make.
Big guy was dropping pills
and chasing them with wine.
I told both men
to get out of the car.
Big guy swung something
from under his coat.
I-I thought it was another bottle.
It looked like it.
That's all I can pull up.
I'm just blank after that, Joe.
Can you describe the men?
Did they use any names?
I parked
and walked over.
Car was green, and there was no—
Friday?
The human mind is a delicate thing.
He may never remember it.
- You mean he's lost his memory?
- It may come back in a few weeks,
a few years. Nobody knows.
The shock of getting shot like that
was a big trauma, a frightening thing.
The conscious mind
doesn't want to think about it
and blocks it out.
It's something like amnesia.
May come back, it may not.
You remember Widdon,
Burglary Division?
Three, four years ago,
he took a. 45 slug in the stomach.
Can't even remember his name.
- What are Roberts's chances otherwise?
- He's past the critical stage.
- I see.
- We saved his life, but not him.
[Friday Narrating]
Thursday, October 23, 9:00 a.m.
Six months went by.
We had no more to go on
than we had the day
Officer Roberts got shot.
It became a habit to check
all Teletypes and robbery A. P. B. 's
every morning,
looking for anyone who came close
to fitting the description of the suspects
in the shooting.
We finally came across one report
that looked good.
We checked with Captain Brown.
We told him what we had.
Two men had robbed a liquor store
in Pasadena the previous night.
One was tall, the other was short.
They had used a swing-out shotgun.
- You talked to Robbery Detail out there?
- Yes. Sergeant James says they've got
a witness who got a good look at 'em.
- You better pray for rain on this one.
- How's that, Skipper?
- I just checked the hospital
a few minutes ago.
- Yes, sir.
You're gonna need that eyeball witness.
Roberts still can't help you.
[Friday Narrating]
Bill and I, along with police artist
Hector Garcia, drove out to Pasadena.
It was decided we would try
for composite drawings of the suspects.
Sergeant James of the Pasadena
Police Department Robbery Detail
told us he would meet us
at the scene of the holdup.
10:05 a.m.
Mr. Wilson.
Sergeant Friday,
Officer Gannon, L.A.P.D.
How do you do, sir?
You people working
on this case too?
Yes, sir. That's right.
Now, this is police artist
Hector Garcia.
If you'll describe the men
who held you up, Garcia here's
gonna try to draw 'em.
I'll do my best, Sergeant.
All right, Mr. Wilson.
We have a suspect number one
and a suspect number two.
Let's begin with suspect number one.
Let's start with the shape of his head.
Understand them two might be
the ones that shot that policeman.
- Yes, sir. That's right.
- Been held up two times
since I bought this place.
You boys nailed 'em both times.
That's why I want to do this good.
All right, sir.
All right, sir, Mr. Police Artist.
Let's go get 'em.
You're good, Mr. Artist.
That's them to a "T."
No doubt about it.
You remember
anything they said, Mr. Wilson?
They mention any names?
- No, they didn't say much. No reason to.
- Now, how's that, sir?
That shotgun, it did
all the talking necessary.
[Friday Narrating]
12: 15 p.m. Bill and I put out a request
for a supplementary M. O. bulletin
with the composite drawings
of the two suspects.
It would be sent to all
law enforcement agencies.
Four-by-five prints of the composites
were made up by the photo lab.
We drove over to Central Receiving.
We knew it was an outside chance,
but we wanted to show the drawings
to Officer Dave Roberts
to confirm the fact that one of them
was the man who had shot him.
It's no good, Joe. These pictures
don't mean a thing to me.
- You're sure?
- I'm not sure who's president.
[Friday Narrating]
1:30 p.m. We went back downtown
to meet with Sergeant Al Vietti
who had shown the composite drawings
of the two suspects to Pete Stuart,
the owner of the liquor store
that had been robbed
the day Roberts was shot.
No good, Joe. Showed the composites to Stuart,
said he couldn't make 'em from the drawings.
- He doesn't think they look like 'em?
- No. Said he couldn't be sure
from drawings of them.
- Wants to see some photographs.
- So do we.
Said he could definitely spot 'em
from photos, but not these.
Well, right now we're
right back where we started—
standing in the middle
of a tall hole.
Yep, we got two faces
and no names to go with 'em.
[Friday Narrating]
Tuesday, January 1 6, 9:30 p.m.
For three months, Bill and I spent
whatever time we could squeeze out
down in R&I.
We started to go through every package
of all Mutt and Jeff suspects known
to operate with a shotgun.
It was an endless job,
and so far, we had gotten nowhere.
You two still trying to read
every package in R&I?
We might get lucky.
You might figure a way
to french fry an ice cube too.
- Those two gotta be someplace.
- Checked on Roberts late this afternoon.
- He goes home tomorrow,
if he can find his way.
- It's a rotten shame.
[Phone Rings]
Homicide. Friday.
Who? Yeah.
Yeah, this is Friday, Virg.
You did? Well, have you got
a couple of names for me?
Where? Where?
Oh, Virg, we could find a place
closer than that, couldn't we?
All right. What time? Right.
I got it. I'll see you then.
One of my informants.
- Anything?
- Says he thinks he's got a line
on our Mutt and Jeff boys.
- He won't tell me over the phone.
He wants to meet tomorrow morning.
- Where?
Fifty-yard line at the Coliseum.
[Friday Narrating]
10:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 1 7.
I drove out to Exposition Park
to the Los Angeles Coliseum
to meet with Virgil Hicks.
When I arrived,
he was seated in the stands, waiting.
We both made our way
to the center of the playing field
at the 50-yard line.
Big Joe.
How are you, Virg?
6'2" and even, I guess.
What do you got for us, Virg?
Two names—
Roger Kensington and Harry Johnson.
Tell me about 'em.
Real heavy, Big Joe.
Both of 'em born
with their mouths on upside down.
Little guy and a big guy.
- Why'd you come to me with them, Virg?
- I was having a glass of port
in one of the joints down on Fifth.
They were throwing money
around pretty good.
Go on.
The big one, Kensington,
keeps talking about Big Mama.
- What do you mean, "Big Mama"?
- He said, "Big Mama put that cop down for good."
Then he said,
"And, boy, is she built.
Twelve, twelve, twelve.
Both barrels of her."
Yeah?
Even I know he's talking
about a shotgun now.
I put the one and one you give me
together, and I figure it might be
them two that shot the cop.
Am I right?
Sounds good, Virg.
You sure about those names now?
Kensington and Johnson?
Sure as sure.
Followed them to their hotel.
Gave the last of my bottle to the clerk,
and he give me their names.
Told him I used to work
with 'em back in Cincy.
You don't think you burned it?
No, sir, Big Joe.
This clerk was three sheets to the wind
by the time I left him.
- What's the name of the hotel?
- The Adobe Red, down on Crocker.
Right, Virg, and thanks.
Now, you take care of yourself.
- One thing more you oughta know.
- Yeah? What's that?
- The desk clerk at the Adobe,
he told me something.
- Yeah?
- About the shotgun the big guy's got.
- What about it?
He sleeps with it, in his bed!
[Friday Narrating]
1 1: 15 a.m. We went downstairs
to R&I
and pulled the packages
on Kensington and Johnson.
The mug shots were almost
a perfect match to the composites.
Bill called Al Vietti
in Robbery Division
and filled him in.
Vietti said he and his partner, Slats Henry,
would show the mug shots
to the owner of the Pasadena liquor store
that was held up.
Bill and I drove over
to Pete Stuart's liquor store,
the one that was robbed minutes before
Officer Dave Roberts had been shot down.
This one and this one.
No doubt about it.
It's like I told you,
show me an actual picture,
and I'll pick 'em out every time.
- You sure, Mr. Stuart?
- Positive. Couldn't miss 'em.
The drawings were good, I'll admit that,
but that old photo will do it every time.
Thank you, Mr. Stuart.
You've been a big help.
Haven't seen anything in the papers lately
about that officer that's been shot.
How's he doing?
- Not too good, sir.
- Yeah.
Some time ago I read where
his wife was gonna have a baby.
- You know, Sergeant, no matter
how much we pay you people—
- Yes, sir?
It ain't enough.
[Friday Narrating]
12:20 p.m. We returned to the office
and filled Captain Brown in.
Al Vietti and his partner
had returned from Pasadena.
Wilson gave us a positive make.
Kensington and Johnson are
the two who held him up.
Howe says you and Henry roll
with Friday and Gannon.
Yes, sir.
Bring 'em in.
[Friday Narrating]
12:27 p.m.
We went downstairs to the property section
and checked out a 12-gauge Ithaca shotgun.
We also drew five rounds
of 12-gauge Magnum load
double-ought buckshot.
Flinch, and you'll be chasing
your head down Fifth Street.
Get those hands out
where I can see 'em
and climb out of that bed!
Move! Police officers.
You're under arrest.
Get your hands up against that wall,
and get your feet back.
[Handcuffs Ratcheting]
Come on!
Come on.
- How 'bout letting me
wipe the soap off my face?
- Why? You look good.
- Why the roust? What's the charge?
- Sleeping with a shotgun will do.
[Friday Narrating]
3:30 p.m. Johnson and Kensington
were booked for 2 1 1 P. C.,
robbery in the first degree.
Two one-dollar rolls of Benzedrine tablets
were found in their possession,
along with a fifth
of inexpensive port wine.
Confronted with the positive identification
provided by the liquor store owners,
they admitted their guilt
for the robberies.
We checked back in
with Captain Brown.
Kensington and Johnson steadfastly denied
having anything to do with the shooting
of Officer Dave Roberts.
That was Mert Howe.
Robbery's got 'em for three other jobs
besides L.A. and Pasadena.
- Yes, sir.
- Unless you can come up with
an eyeball witness on the shooting,
you got a pound of air
and that's all.
It's too bad Roberts himself
can't finger 'em.
They don't know that he can't.
Well, he's home on recuperative leave.
He's up and around.
Memory's still faded out.
Maybe it'll work.
It's got to.
[Friday Narrating]
Wednesday, January 1 7, 4: 15 p.m.
Look here, Harry.
They sent in the first team.
All right, tunnel mouth.
Let's all save time.
Last April, a police officer was shot
at Olive and Main. We think you
and that shotgun did it.
- He scare you, Roger? He scares me.
- He makes me sick.
You've been rousting me
ever since I was a kid.
You and every cop
from here to Kansas City,
year after year.
If it wasn't for prison food,
you'd starve to death.
You haven't been out of the joint
for more than two or three years
in your entire life.
I'll be out again in 26 months,
brown eyes. Stay home nights.
You listen to me, punk.
I've handled jaywalkers
that were tougher than you.
When I get out,
I'm gonna waste you.
No reason to work up a sweat, Roger.
They told us our rights.
We don't even have to talk to 'em.
All right. I'll talk to you, Johnson.
You were born in Harlan, Kentucky.
Your father was a housepainter
killed in the war. Your mother and
your sister brought you out here.
You went to school in Torrance.
You got expelled for throwing a punch
at your math teacher.
The army took you during the Korean War.
They didn't want you.
They shoved you out on a Section 8.
- For seven years now,
you've been in jail or just getting out.
- I do hope you'll write my book.
Now, your buddy here,
he's really big time.
Three states want him
for parole violation,
two for armed robbery
and one for statutory rape—
that's in Kansas.
- You remember her name, don't you?
- What if I don't?
- You should. She was your sister's daughter.
- All right. Let's take it back about a year.
April 14, Wednesday afternoon.
You were out on bail,
pending trial in Hampstead, Nevada,
on felony assault with G.B.I.
On April 22, you stole
a 1960 Mercury sedan from in front
of a drugstore on Clinton Street.
You drove to Elko and lifted a plate
from the Gunnison Brothers junkyard.
Tuesday, April 28. You parked
your clean car, the blue Chevrolet,
at Whitsett and Flower.
You drove the Mercury over
to Olive and Main. You staked out
the Stuart Liquor Store.
While you waited for the owner to show up,
you sat in the car dropping pills
and chasing 'em with cheap port wine.
The store opened up. You knocked
it over, you got back in the car.
Johnson, you were driving.
Kensington, you were in the backseat
with a shotgun cradled under your arm,
hanging on this bent tablespoon.
Everything was going just fine.
You kept dropping bennies
and swallowing wine.
This black-and-white unit spotted you
and pulled you over. It parked behind you.
Officer Dave Roberts walked up to your car
and told you to get out.
Then, Kensington, you broke out
in a rash of real bravery.
You swung this shotgun
out from under your coat,
stuck it in Roberts's middle,
pulled the trigger
and slammed 276 pellets
into his stomach.
Johnson, you dropped the car into gear
and dug out, leaving that officer there
with his life draining out in the gutter.
That's a good story, cop,
but you need a witness,
and that you ain't got.
Ain't we?
You told me he died.
He should have.
- You heard him. He's the one that did it.
That shotgun fits him, not me!
- Shut up!
I'll tell 'em to roll the tape.
Thanks, Dave.
Joe?
Yeah?
You know something?
What's that, Dave?
I still don't remember them.
You don't have to now, Dave.
[Narrator]
The story you have just seen is true.
The names were changed
to protect the innocent.
On March 23,
trial was held in Department 186,
Superior Court of the State of California,
in and for the County of Los Angeles.
In a moment, the results of that trial.
The suspects were found guilty
on a charge of assault
with intent to commit murder.
They were also convicted
on three counts of robbery
in the first degree.
Assault with intent to commit murder
is punishable by imprisonment
in the state prison
for not less than one
nor more than 14 years.
Robbery in the first degree is punishable
by imprisonment in the state prison
for not less than five years.