6:49 PM: Police are searching for two suspects in a reported street robbery near the Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW), and the Guardian One helicopter is on the way to join them. The victim told police his phone was stolen and that the suspects are male – possbly armed – and female. No other details so far.
6:54 PM: The search is ending, per radio exchange, because the person who reported their phone was taken does not want to pursue it as a criminal case after all.
Why are they deploying a helicopter to look for a phone thief, is it because they are possibly carrying firearms? Thanks for your reportage, WSB.
(a) Guardian One was up anyway, not specifically called for this incident (they’re not always up)
(b) Yes, the fact it was initially reported as an armed robbery added some urgency
So the victim reported his phone was stolen in a street robbery, then after the police devoted their resources, including a helicopter, to search for his attackers, he decides it wasn’t a robbery and doesn’t want to pursue it as such? Sounds like he needs to be investigated for filing a false report then.
Or he’s scared of retaliation. (I would be). I know it’s not cool what he did, but try to put yourself in this persons shoes.
Maybe police encouraged him not to press charges, given some prisoners are being released because of coronavirus. Maybe he recognized the thief and feared retribution. There are multiple reasons why a person might not choose charges. Crazy times.
No, they didn’t encourage not pressing charges. They were all set to go chase down a robber – helicopter arriving, containment set up, K9, etc. The exact phrase was that the person whose phone was taken “didn’t want to be a victim” … There was some indication they knew the people who took the phone, though, so who knows how that factored into their decision.
Sorry, comment time is over.
| 6 COMMENTS