The Big Guy Chapter 20

The Big Guy
Chapter 20

“So…we don’t need a warrant?”

“Not if we don’t arrest anyone. Under the city ordinances, we can enter any business considered a public nuisance, and if any business falls into that category, it’s The Four Aces. I want to raid the place tomorrow night just after midnight. We’ll use second-shift officers, and let’s make sure we have some of the new ones with us, especially Aimee Johnstone, in case we have to frisk any female patrons. I want everyone in vests, and I’ll speak to Mulvaney down in the armory to get enough shotguns for everyone. Let’s ensure we have plenty of plastic handcuffs just in case we need them.”

“How many officers, do you think?”

“A dozen, I think. We’ll need two outside the rear entrance and four in the parking lot to handle any gawkers or patrons we must arrest. I’ll try to avoid that by telling everyone to throw anything illegal onto the floor.”

Daryl gave me an unbelieving look, but I had it covered. We spent an hour deciding who we wanted on the raid. Everyone on shifts two and three would get three hours of overtime. I explained what I wanted to the second shift officers, stressing the need for confidentiality. Lt. Dan Powell briefed the third shift officers, and I spoke to Mulvaney to ensure we had plenty of shotguns and ammunition. I also checked to ensure we’d have someone on duty to man our three new cells.

Once I had identified three storerooms we could clear due to computerizing our records, the City Council approved spending seventy-five thousand dollars of our recovered funds from the big drug bust for bars, sliding barred doors, and barred polycarbonate windows for each room. Adding basin/toilet combinations and plumbing was easy. I had placed five of the officers who had failed to qualify on the new standards down there, ordering Mulvaney to assist during the day shift when necessary.

We eventually decided to use personnel from the third shift for the raid, except for Aimee Johnstone and her training partner, because we needed a female officer, and Aimee was it for now. Second-shift officers would continue on patrol for an additional three hours. This made the most sense; third-shift officers would be fresh and alert, much more so than those ending their shift. Daryl, Dan, and I laid out the preparations for the inspection that morning, insisting that everyone involved arrive at headquarters by 11:00 that evening.

We were on site by 11:45 with two officers and a sergeant stationed at the rear exit, four officers, and Lt. Powell controlling the front. Daryl and I would lead the remaining eight into the bar. All of them were armed with Ithaca 12-gauge shotguns and their pistols and batons. As I pushed through the door, I was armed with my regular pistol, baton, and my deadliest weapon—Max. Besides the jukebox, the noise disappeared as soon as Max and the crowd could see me. We approached the bar as my team spread around, shotguns ready. As he approached, the owner/bartender was wiping his hands on a filthy towel. He hadn’t gotten a single word out of his mouth when Daryl pulled the jukebox’s plug out of the socket.

“Um…what’s going on, Chief?”

“I’m closing you down, Mr. Bolt, right after I search all your patrons.”

“You can’t do that. I run a clean joint.”

“Clean joint, eh? How many times have my people been here because of a brawl or an overdose in the past month? I could understand maybe once, but we’ve had to send officers here at least twice a week on average, and every time, the people involved have been high on coke or meth or heroin.

That’s why I’m closing you down after everyone here is searched. Now, I have no desire to arrest anyone tonight and won’t if everything illegal winds up on the floor. However, if we find anything illegal on your person when you’re searched, you can plan on spending at least a few days in jail and probably more.” I passed a set of papers across the bar to Bolt as I continued, “I’ve taken the liberty of printing the applicable sections of the city ordinances that apply to my actions tonight. Carefully review Section 54, Part 4, paragraphs C through G.”

By then, Daryl had worked behind the bar to take possession of Bolt’s pistol. He lifted it to show me, so I returned my attention to the patrons. “Everyone at the bar—stand up and back away. Drop anything in your pockets, underwear, boots, or onto the floor. That means drugs, weapons—anything that could get you into trouble. If you drop it onto the floor, you’re getting a free pass tonight.” Most of them believed me because several knives, packets of drugs, and even a .38 revolver found their way to the floor. Then, I had them step back to the bar where they were searched.

Max and I approached one booth, where I noticed that the occupants’ behavior was even surlier than I had anticipated. Sure enough, I got lip from a short, stocky guy with a shaved head and scruffy beard. “You got no fuckin’ right to treat us like this. I have half a mind to stomp your ass, and I would accept you got a gun and a big dog. Without them, you’d be toast, Muthafucka.”

“And, you would be…who?”

“I’m DeAnthony Shutt. I see you brought all your Uncle Tom’s with you tonight. That’s just what we need—a bunch of fuckin’ Oreo playing’ police, man.”

“Oh yeah—I’ve heard of you except the warden at Joliet called you ‘Shit Chute,’ and I must say the name fits. After what the warden told me, I thought you’d be much more, but now I can see you’re just another big-mouth con. So, tell me—have any special training like judo, karate, or kendo?”

“No, why the fuck do you think I would need that?”

“I spent four years in the military police with the Navy, so I had the same hand-to-hand combat training they give the Seals. Unfortunately, I am the Chief of Police and must exercise restraint and set an example for the community.” I would have gone on, but one of the new black recruits called me to the bar.

“Chief, this guy has something in his crotch.”

“No problem, Officer Gore; either he’ll take it out, or Max will.” I snapped my fingers, and Max moved up between his legs.

“Okay, man…okay; I’ll get it. It’s just a knife I carry for protection…that’s all.” He reached into his pants and pulled out a switchblade with a six-inch blade. Officer Gore cuffed him and led him outside to one of the waiting patrol cars. Dan Powell carefully placed him into the rear seat, and Gore returned to the bar. Table by table, people were led to the bar, and on the way, they dropped all kinds of drugs and paraphernalia. There were four more knives and two pistols that were taken by one of the officers, unloaded, and placed into a tote bag.

Finally, we got to the booth with Shutt and company. That was when one of the experienced officers whispered into my ear. It was music—sweet music. I pulled Shutt out of the booth and wasn’t too gentle. Wedged into the bar, I pulled his left hand behind him and applied my handcuff to his wrist. His right hand followed a second later. “You must like Joliet, Schutt. You’re on parole and seated at a booth with two convicted felons. That’s two parole violations. Let’s see if you have any more.” I bent him over one of the stools and searched him carefully.

I pulled out two glassine bags with capsules in them that looked suspiciously like those we’d confiscated in the big drug bust we’d had a few months ago. Daryl bagged and sealed them as evidence. I also found a derringer in one of Shutt’s boots. Gore smiled as he escorted Shutt to the parking lot and jail.

We finished the searches less than an hour later and then stood by until Mr. Bolt had locked the doors and set the alarms. A small crowd gathered, so I told them that the bar was closed and would be there until the City Council's next meeting. We returned to headquarters, where we supervised the processing of Shutt and the other prisoners before setting them up in separate cells. Before going home to my wife and daughter, my final act was to tell the Sergeant in charge that Shutt was to have no visitors and not to share the cell with anyone else. I’d handle his transfer tomorrow morning.

My watch told me it was after 2:30 when Max and I walked into the house and to our bedroom. I was surprised to see one of the bedside lamps on as we climbed the stairs. When we entered the room, Lucy was sitting up, pillows fluffed at her back, and Melody was fretting in her arms.

“She’s been fidgeting all night. I don’t know what to do.”

I stripped off my uniform shirt and dropped my pistol and belt to the floor. Then I pulled a clean diaper out of the drawer, placing it on my shoulder. “Let’s try this,” I told Lucy as I leaned forward for a quick kiss, picking up my daughter and resting her head on my shoulder. A few seconds later, I sat in the old wooden rocker Lucy’s mom gave us. Slowly rocking had a magical effect on Melody. She quieted down almost immediately as I gently rubbed her back. I couldn’t see her eyes, but I was sure she was looking straight into Max’s eyes. She gurgled several times when Max licked her hand, and soon, her breathing changed from ragged and shallow to slow, deep, and regular. I knew then that she was asleep.

I continued to rock her for another fifteen minutes before rising and laying her carefully in her bassinet. My phone vibrated when I was about to strip down for a quick shower. I knew immediately that there was a severe problem. “Cahill,” I said as a greeting.

“Chief, it’s Steve Dobbs. We have a problem. Biggers screwed up with the prisoner. Somehow, he let Shutt out of the cell alone, and Shutt beat and overpowered him. He’s escaped, and he has Biggers’ weapon.”

“Shit,” I said, not too quietly. “Okay, get EMTs for Biggers. If you haven’t done that yet, call everyone you can reach and have them come in.

Could you let the Sheriff know, too? I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” After ending the call, I made another. “I’m phoning your parents. I want them to come over here for the night.” I would have continued, but Jonathan had answered his phone and, not surprisingly, his first words expressed concern for Lucy and Melody.

“They’re fine, Jonathan, but I need you and Marylou to come here and bring one of your shotguns. We’ve had a prisoner escape, and he’s armed and dangerous. He and I had a little problem at The Four Aces, and it would be just like him getting revenge on my wife and child. I’ll feel a lot better knowing you’re here. I could leave Max, but I’ll probably need him on the search.” After speaking for another few minutes, he assured me they’d be here in less than five minutes.

I explained to Lucy. “You heard part of it. I arrested a guy who was on parole at The Four Aces. Not only was he sitting in a booth with two convicted felons, but I found a switchblade and a pistol in his pants. Those are serious parole violations, so he was headed back to Joliet except for that idiot Biggers. We have rules about letting prisoners out of the cell when you’re alone. As many times as I’ve explained them, that’s how many he told me that he felt they were unnecessary. I wonder how he feels now. He’s looking at a lengthy suspension, and if anyone is hurt or killed, I’ll fire the son of a bitch.”

Max jumped up and ran down the stairs but never barked. That told me that Jonathan and Marylou had arrived. After a quick greeting, I took Max to the garage en route to headquarters. I pulled out my vest and used Velcro to fasten it tightly around my body. When Max and I walked in, more than thirty officers were in the lobby.

“Okay,” I began. “We have a black male approximately five feet eight inches tall and two hundred pounds. He has a shaved head and a scruffy beard.

He’s on parole from Joliet with permission to be here in Tennessee, but not for long. Do we know what he’s wearing—jumpsuit or regular clothes?”

“He’s in a jumpsuit, Chief. His clothes are in ‘Property.’”

“Get his clothes so Max can smell them. I want two teams to cover the Creek Bridge…vests and shotguns.”

Then I had another thought.

“Did he take Biggers’ vest?”

“Damn, he must have. Bob wasn’t wearing it when the EMTs came.”

“That means shotguns and slugs. Don’t play any games with this guy. He was convicted of armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Just don’t shoot any civilians.” I sent two veteran teams to blockade the bridge. From personal experience with Lucy, I knew it was the only way to cross the creek. The weather had been cold, and the creek was wide enough to give someone hypothermia long before they reached the other side, even assuming that Shutt could swim. Shutt’s family was from the area, so I was sure he knew all about the creek and the problems crossing it.

I reviewed search procedures with everyone while we waited for Shutt’s clothes. Max, Aimee Johnstone, Daryl, and I would follow the scent trail with teams of two every fifty yards. We’d keep communicating using the second channel on our radios, reserving the first for contacting headquarters.

Sgt. Dobbs ran in with Shutt’s clothes, and I held them before Max’s nose. He wasn’t a bloodhound, but all dogs have a sense of smell that is thousands of times more sensitive than humans. Max sniffed several times, then trotted to the door. Once outside, he circled several times before walking at a good pace to the north, exactly as I had predicted.

Max kept his nose near the ground as he led us past the city garage and through the mostly empty parking lot to the neighborhood across the street.

These were primarily tiny homes on small lots. The homes in this integrated neighborhood were clean and well cared for, and I knew that everyone would be safe in bed at this hour unless someone had to commute to Memphis or beyond for a long time. I was concerned that Shutt might try forced entry to a house, but Max kept us on the sidewalk until the road ended at the edge of a thick wooded area stretched for more than a mile.

I repeated my earlier instructions about spacing and communication. We spread out, covering almost a quarter mile from end to end, and strode carefully into the darkness. Like many wooded areas in the South, there were primarily pines of varying sizes with small bushes like ferns or thorny vines in open spaces.

Thankfully, it was winter because we had some spiders here that were more than two inches long and webs that ran between trees. We had powerful LED flashlights that we were forced to use even though that meant that Shutt could locate us once we were close to him. There’s an answer to that—a technique covered in every police academy. All flashlights were held arm’s length to the sides of our bodies rather than directly in front, as most people would.

An hour later, we were in the woods, almost a mile away, when Max crouched down. I knew then that we were close to our quarry. I tapped Max and pointed him to the left. I did this for two reasons—first, to keep Max from being shot, and second, to hopefully ambush Shutt from the side. I spoke into my radio just above a whisper.

“He’s close by now…probably not more than fifty yards, so be careful and pay attention.”

We moved forward very slowly now, and I kept Aimee Johnstone behind me and to my left—about five yards away, knowing that my brief interaction with Shutt would make me his prime target. Not only did I think that, but I was counting on it. My training in the Navy and the Marshal’s Service had taught me exactly what to do. We had moved about twenty yards through an annoying field of vines covered with thorns that clung to our slacks with every step. I stopped briefly to show Aimee a small patch of orange cloth impaled on several thorns.

Turning to Aimee, I ordered her to turn her flashlight off. Daryl did the same on his side. I wanted Shutt’s attention focused on me as we moved forward.

I could see an anomaly ahead and slightly to my left. It was a thick-trunked oak tree in the center of a small clearing. Moving my flash back and forth, I could see nothing on either side or beyond the massive tree for twenty-five yards or more, so I strongly felt that Shutt had taken shelter behind it. I’m never one to pussyfoot around, so I called out, “Give it up, Shutt. We have over thirty armed officers with us, and you’ll never get away.”

“Fuck you, muthafucka. Your honkies may get me, but I’ll get you first. That’s a fuckin’ promise.” He stepped out from the left side of the tree, aiming Biggers’ pistol straight at me. “You talk a good game, muthafucka. Now let’s see how you die.”

As he raised the pistol, I looked to my left and yelled, “NOW, MAX!” When Shutt looked to his right, I rolled right into the thorny vines, pulling me.44 Magnum before hitting the ground. He fired repeatedly, but he was wide, missing me with all but one shot that struck my left bicep area as I drew a bead on him. But as I fired, I heard two loud BOOMS—one to my left side and the other from my pistol. Looking up, I saw blood spurting from two wounds in the middle of his chest—the two holes, one from a twelve gauge slug and the other from a .44 bullet, only an inch apart.

Shutt’s face lost color as he looked down to see the red arterial blood pump out over his body just before he crumbled swiftly to the ground.

I felt Daryl pull me up as I holstered my weapon. My arms and face were covered with cuts from the thorns as I stood, slowly and painfully extricating my body from the vines. Aimee ran forward with her shotgun centered on Shutt until she was able to kick the pistol away and call for EMTs. Our remaining team members formed a line showing the way for the medical techs. I sent them first to check on Shutt, but they knew immediately that he was dead. He was lying face down, and the exit holes from the massive projectiles were a dead giveaway.

Nobody could suffer that kind of damage and survive. I sent Daryl and the EMTs to look after Aimee, who was clearly in distress after killing a human being for the first time.

My arm was covered with gauze and wrapped in a pressure bandage until I could get to the hospital.

“Daryl, please take command here. Call the Sheriff about sending his crime techs to the scene. Take control of Aimee’s shotgun and my pistol.

They’ll want to check them out. Also, I called Lucy and told her I was okay and on my way to the hospital. Then, contact Pastor Michaels and say to him about Aimee. She’ll need much support even though this was self-defense for both of us.”

“Matt! DUH! I know all that. You go to the hospital and do what they tell you. I’ll take care of Aimee and the rest of this.” He patted me on the shoulder and pushed me toward the EMT, who led me to their ambulance. I climbed in, and they strapped me in place. Minutes later, I was on the way. I only prayed that Lucy would stay home because I knew she was still recovering from her surgery.

Who was I kidding? I was in the room having my wound cleaned by a nurse before having it stitched when Lucy and her dad rushed through the curtain. “Matt! I was so worried when Daryl phoned. Look at you. You’re covered in blood.”

“Yeah, but you should see the other guy.” That was the wrong thing to say because it was met with a steely glare. “Honest, Lucy; I’m okay. These are from a bunch of thorns I had to roll in so I wouldn’t get shot.”

“Then, what’s this?”

“Better my arm than my chest.”

“Why didn’t you shoot him as soon as you saw him?”

“Because I love my wife and daughter; I could have been charged with murder if I just shot him. The same goes for Aimee Johnstone. She also shot him once he opened fire. Suppose he decided to give himself up? We had to give him a chance. Yes, I got hurt, but it was self-defense. I’ll get a few days off to spend with my two loves instead of ten to twenty in the state pen. Anthony Michaels should be with Aimee now.”

Lucy looked down for a few seconds, and there were tears in her eyes when she looked up. “I should know by now to trust your judgment, Matt. I’m sorry.” I just pulled her to me for a long kiss until the doctor arrived to sew up my arm. Funny, but the bullet’s entry was almost exactly where I had been injured the last time I had been shot. The angle was different because my arm was horizontal this time, making the entry wound longer and the internal wound worse. Still, I was sure I could get by with a sling for a week or so.

“What about Max,” I asked.

“Daryl found him caught in a big thorn bush, but he’s okay. Daryl said he’d bring him home when he was done on the site. He told me Max saved you even though he wasn’t there.” I explained why that was probably true. I needed the diversion Max gave me to escape Shutt’s aim. The doctor finished the twenty stitches, and the nurse gave me a couple of painkillers and two pills before discharging me—the bill going to the city.

Jonathan drove us home, and Lucy and I went to bed. Max greeted us at the door and followed us into the room, taking station just below Melody. He completely ignored his bed until I brought it over to him. Jonathan and Marylou drove home after hugging both of us gingerly. I checked with Anthony Michaels about Aimee the following morning and was pleased to hear that he had arranged for counseling. Shooting another human being is always traumatic, especially the first time unless you’re a sociopath.

I went into Headquarters three days later for just an hour to deal with Sgt. Biggers. I had given him written notice of the hearing with the option of having a representative from the Tennessee State Police Benevolent Association with him, so I wasn’t surprised to see two lawyers present when we walked into the conference room. Fortunately, I was prepared, having spent an hour with Martin Albright to develop a list of charges. It was more than two pages, ranging from insubordination to failure to follow established procedures. I also charged him with creating a situation in which a prisoner had been killed. I told him that I was suspending him without pay for ninety days and that a committee of the City Council would meet in a formal hearing to determine if he should be fired as per my recommendation. He must have seen the handwriting on the wall because he resigned less than a month later.


To be continued