Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true.
The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
You're a detective sergeant.
You're assigned a robbery detail.
You get a call from an officer in another division.
He's come across some information about a robbery.
Your job, check it out.
Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime.
For the next 30 minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will
travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case transcribed from official
police files.
From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force
in action.
It was Wednesday, May 18th.
It was hot in Los Angeles.
We were working the day watch out of robbery detail.
My partner is Frank Smith, the boss of Chief of Detective Stad Brown.
My name is Friday.
We were on our way down from the office.
It was 1047 a.m. when we got to the R&I counter.
Coke machine.
I don't see him.
No?
It's quite a gadget, huh, Joe?
What?
A machine here.
Real piece of work.
Sure is.
Here you are.
Thank you.
He's starting to figure, Joe, all the wires in there, levers.
Must be a couple hundred wheels.
Yeah.
Did Johnny say why he wanted to see us?
Uh-uh.
Yes, sir.
It must be four or five miles of the wire and that thing.
Yeah, at least.
Why do you think he did it, Joe?
What?
Invent the machine.
I don't know.
Maybe he just liked to invent things.
No, I don't think that's it.
What's your idea?
Well, a guy would have to spend a lot of time to build something like this.
Maybe a couple of years.
Yeah.
Figure now, a person just has to step up, put a coin in, cup drops down, syrup pours
in, seltzer, way it's all measured out.
Yeah, a guy would have to spend a lot of time on that.
Yeah, I guess so.
Sure.
Got to be a good reason for thinking it up.
What's your idea?
I don't think you could find a bottle of it.
Yeah, sure.
Joe.
Frank.
Hi, John.
Oh, hi, John.
Sorry I'm late.
I got a call on my way out.
No trouble.
What do you got?
Picked up a kid day before yesterday.
He's carrying a can full of grass.
Pretty rough kid when we tagged him.
Wouldn't give us a time of day.
How old is he?
Seventeen, just under the line.
Uh-huh.
We got to the talking room last night.
Started to relax.
Guess he knew he was in trouble.
Yeah.
One thing led to another, and the kid ended up talking pretty good.
What'd he give you?
Rumble about his brother.
Got big plans.
Yeah.
And a knock over a loan company.
Captain Powers, Frank and I left the city hall, drove over to Georgia Street Juvenile.
We had the suspect brought to one of the interview rooms.
All right, sit down with me.
Hi, Mr. Sergeant Friday and Officer Smith.
I want to talk to you.
Frank, it's Homer Rankin.
How are you?
Nice to meet you.
What do you want?
Well, I told them what you said about your brother, Homer.
They'd like to go over it with you.
That's a lousy deal.
What do you mean by that, son?
Stinks, that's what I mean.
What I told you wasn't supposed to be broadcast.
I'm just trying to help you out, kid.
Yeah, where's your shovel?
The word leaks like turn pink and the services will be real nice.
You're all invited.
Look, boy, you're not going to help yourself by acting like this, and you're not going
to do your brother any good either.
You tell me all about it, huh?
What are you trying to build, Homer?
What do you want?
You're going to do it alone.
We can't do that, you know it.
Try.
Look, Homer, you're in trouble.
Why make it any worse, huh?
You got me for possession, that's all.
You ain't going to make any more out of it.
All right, let's go.
Come on, kid.
Where to now?
The basement for the rubber hose, huh?
Going back to your cell.
Good.
I didn't sleep good last night.
Maybe I can get some sack time.
You better do it while you can.
What's that supposed to mean?
The time the court gets through you, you're not going to feel like sleeping, I'm afraid.
What do you do?
Where do you work?
What's your job around here?
Robbery.
Big guys, huh?
No.
I heard about you fellas.
Big time operators.
I guess I should feel pretty good you come to see me.
How do you figure that?
You don't waste your time on small time stuff.
Well, you better take another look.
We did this morning.
We sent back to Captain Power's office and got the name and address of the subject's
brother.
It was 10 p.m., we drove back to City Hall and had the name checked through R&I.
Here you are.
Thanks, home.
That's a fat packing.
Yeah.
Let's see the arrest report.
It's long.
It's all burglary, 2-11.
It's been busy.
Yeah.
You got a 5-2 there?
There it is.
Who's he listed as next to Ken?
White, Paula Rankin, 101st Street address.
Better talk to him.
Yeah, I'll talk to him.
I'll talk to him.
I'll talk to him.
I'll talk to him.
I'll talk to him.
I'll talk to him.
I'll talk to him.
I'll talk to him.
I'll talk to him.
I'll talk to him.
I'll talk to him.
You think the kid told powers of truth?
I don't know.
Maybe he just wanted to sound big.
That's possible.
Brother sure fits though.
Mm-hmm.
This guy's been lucky.
What do you mean?
Well, the arrest, he's never stood a conviction.
Let's see if we can change that.
We got a copy of the suspect's mugshot and we went out to see his wife.
She lived in one of the new housing projects on the south side of the city.
Miss Rankin?
That's right.
Police officers, we'd like to talk to you.
I don't know anything about the marijuana.
Kid got it someplace. It's his problem.
I got enough of my own.
We'd like to talk to you about your husband.
Tim?
That's right.
Come on in.
Thank you.
Want to sit down?
Thanks.
This is my partner Frank Smith. My name's Friday.
Yeah.
Now what's the beef about Tim?
Is he here?
No.
You know where he is?
No, I don't.
When did you see him last?
A couple of days ago.
He out of town?
I don't know. Couldn't care any less.
Do you have any idea where we can get in touch with him?
Listen, mister, if I knew you'd have it, I got nothing to save him from.
As far as I'm concerned, he can boil.
Is that so?
Yeah.
Since the day I met him, I've been carrying the economy-side of trouble.
Week goes by and he ain't pinched.
It's a cause to get arrested for shooting off skyrockets.
Always something. I'm tired of it.
And I'm through with him.
Never see him again. I ain't gonna cry about it.
You got any other relatives in town?
Just the JD.
Ma'am?
The kid, Homer. He's the only one.
Boy lives here, is that right?
He's got a bed. Don't use it much. Like his brother.
All the time out trying to get himself hung up.
Never seen such a trouble family.
Any place your husband might go?
I told you before, if there is, I don't know about it.
Does he have a job?
Tim?
Yes, ma'am.
Honey, if you got paid for goofing, Tim could retire.
Only thing wrong is he ain't got nothing to retire from.
He doesn't have a job.
That's the general idea, yeah.
Where does he spend his time?
Ain't around here.
Where, do you know?
I don't know.
Guess it'd be the hot dog stand.
Couple of times when I needed some money, I caught up with him there.
Where is the place?
Down on 114th, a couple blocks over.
You can't miss it. One of those all-night places.
Your husband have any close friends?
What do you mean, close?
Who does he spend time with?
Yeah, a couple of guys, but that...
You know their names?
No.
You ever seen them?
Yeah. One of them was here once, I saw him.
Can you give us a name?
No, I don't remember. Me and Tim had a beef about it.
I came home and found him and this bum, Croc Don Beer, had a beef about it,
and ended up with both of them leaving.
Can you describe the man for us?
He's a man. Got a head, two arms, two legs.
That's all you can tell us?
Yeah.
All right, thanks for the time.
Don't worry about it, it's free.
I'm gonna leave you a card if you hear from your husband.
We'd appreciate a call.
Sure. Well, don't hold your breath.
He's unlikely he'll come back this time.
Can you tell him what it's about?
It's a police matter. It'd be better if we talked to him personally.
Can I get you anything? A drink, maybe?
No, thanks.
Too bad.
Sometimes when you're in the neighborhood, you know, not working.
Drop in, I'll pour you a drink.
Yeah, sure.
No, I mean it.
The girl gets lonely just sitting by herself.
The company'd be nice.
You're not married, are you?
No, ma'am.
That's nice.
You drop by now.
Anytime.
You bet. Thanks again.
Goodbye, Miss Rankin.
Bye.
Hey, Joe.
Just do me a favor, will you?
Sure, old buddy. What is it?
Be quiet.
We checked with the neighbors and they verified Miss Rankin's story about her husband's absence.
None of them were able to tell us where he might have gone.
Other than saying that the Rankins fought constantly, they were not able to give us any new information.
2.15 p.m.
We drove down to the hot dog stand on 114th.
There was no one at the counter who looked like the suspect, Tim Rankin.
Who would it be?
Cup of coffee.
Okay, how about you?
Number six, I guess.
You make that with cheddar cheese?
Yeah.
Okay, I'll have one of those.
Glass of milk, too.
Sure.
Want your coffee now?
Please.
Hot.
That's good, and that's the way we like it.
Oh, not the coffee, the sun.
Oh, yeah.
And the paper says it's 91 Pacific Center.
Uh-huh.
We should be doing more business than we are.
I understand it, though.
Is that right?
You know, cold drinks.
Hot day people all the time drinking something cold.
Yeah.
No offense.
Oh, that's all right.
Malamute would be ready right away.
Huh?
That's what the number six is, Malamute.
Oh.
Have you seen Tim Rankin around this morning?
Uh, yeah, he was in about 10.
You guys friends of his?
We like to talk to him.
We came in, had a cup of coffee with Shelly.
Two of them left, I guess, about 10.30.
Who was he with, you know?
Shelly, you know, Shelly Mitchell.
Oh, yeah.
Big buddies all the time together.
You know where they went?
No, I don't know.
Maybe over at Shelly's.
Does he live around here?
Yeah, he's got a pad a couple blocks over.
Hey, your dog will be ready.
You know the address of that place?
Uh-uh.
I never been there.
Heard the two of them talk about it, though.
This guy and Mitchell work?
No, I don't think either one of them do.
Uh-uh.
Want to leave your names?
Guys come back, I'll tell them you're here.
Well, it'd be better if you didn't say anything about it.
Why not?
We're police officers.
Both of you?
That's right.
Sure never a guest.
Uh-uh.
Cops.
You never would have known.
You look just like anybody else.
Uh-uh.
What are you after Tim and Shelly for?
I bet it's a loan company job, huh?
Huh?
Is that it?
What do you know about it?
Oh, look, mister, I didn't have any part in the action.
I just heard them talking.
That's all?
Yeah, gospel.
I didn't even think they were serious.
If I'd known they meant it, I'd have called the cops myself.
I don't want to get mixed up in nothing like that.
Not me.
I ain't about to put my neck out.
What'd they say about the job?
Oh, just they're going to pull it.
All the time I thought they were kidding.
Talking big.
I sure never figured they'd really do it.
What's the name of the company?
Huh?
That place they talked about, what's the name of it?
Uh, Timely Loan Company over on Western.
They say when they were going to make it?
They talked about Monday afternoon.
I guess they decided not to wake them.
Either one of them drive a car, do you know?
Well, Shelley does.
I don't think it is, though.
You ever seen it?
Yeah, a couple times he's had it there.
What kind of a car is it?
Uh, Pontiac, four door.
Happen to know the license number?
Sorry, fellas never pay much attention to it.
Either one of them say when they'd be back?
No, could be any time, though.
They come and go.
You know if this Mitchell's ever been arrested?
I can't give you an answer, never heard him talk about it.
Mm-hmm.
Oh, when'd they hit the place?
What?
When they robbed the loan company.
I never read nothing about it.
Paper seven got in here.
Anybody hurt?
Why do you ask that?
Hmm, kind of figures, it's all.
Yeah?
Sure, I know one thing for sure.
I wouldn't want to get in Shelley's way.
The leg don't slow him down a bit.
What do you mean?
He's got a wooden leg, you know.
Here, the right one.
Told me once he got wounded in the war.
Am I right?
He still walks with a little limp, like this.
Mm-hmm.
He's still untangled with a guy once, happened in the alley, out in the back.
Yeah?
He almost knocked the fellow's head right off his shoulders.
Real punch.
Is that right?
Yeah, that's why I asked if anybody had been hurt.
Shelley, he's feeling like he is.
Yeah.
Of course, I guess he wouldn't hit anybody, be no need for it.
What do you mean?
Well, he wouldn't have to, that's all.
Yeah?
Both of them got guns.
Frank and I arranged for a steak out on the hot dog stand, and we went back to City Hall
and ran the name Shelley Mitchell and his description through R9.
We came up with a possible that looked good.
The mugshot was pulled and shown to the owner of the hot dog stand.
He gave a positive identification.
We contacted Army authorities and requested one information they could give us.
Yes, sir, huh?
When was it?
Let's see.
You have those numbers?
Right.
Now I have them.
All right, Lieutenant, thanks again.
Friday.
Michigan 5211.
Extension 2511.
No, it's 25.
Right?
Okay, many thanks.
How about it?
Looks good.
He was given a dishonorable discharge.
For what?
Theft.
Spent a couple of months in the stockade and then the Army kicked him out.
Yeah.
They'd like to talk to him again, though.
Well, how come?
According to the Lieutenant, seems after he left they got to checking and he didn't leave alone.
What do you mean?
Took 345 automatics with him.
An immediate check was made at the last place listed in Mitchell's package, but he'd moved and left no forwarding address.
Additional officers began to canvas the area where he was supposed to be living.
Local broadcasts and APVs were gotten out on both suspects and a stakeout was set up on Tim Rankin's home.
That afternoon we met with Captain Donahoe and it was decided to put a stakeout on the loan company.
4.50 p.m.
Frank and I were leaving the office to make the necessary arrangements.
You got the mug?
Yeah, we better get on it right away.
Yeah.
Hot shot.
We missed it.
Huh?
Timely Loan Company.
Yeah.
Music
Frank and I left the office and drove out to the Timely Loan Company on Western Avenue.
By the time we got there a radio card answered the call and the officers were checking the neighborhood.
A broadcast had already been gotten out carrying their description.
Frank and I talked with a manager, a Mr. Richard Conover.
Is there anything we can do for you, sir?
No.
Why don't you take a look at some pictures and see if you can recognize the holdup man?
I have to.
Well, it'll help us.
All right.
Here they are, sir.
No, they're not here.
You sure?
I looked at them.
You haven't got a picture.
Would you mind going through them again?
I'll be honest with you, I'd like to see you get the two men, but the money's insured I'm not going to put my family on the block for you.
I don't think I understand.
It's just that I believe in them, that's all.
What do you mean?
On the way out they told me, said if I helped the police they'd find out and make me sorry for it.
Yeah.
Said they'd get my family.
Music
We went over the description Conover had given the uniform men.
It could have fit almost anyone.
The crime lab came out and went over the offices of the loan company, they found nothing that would aid us.
The people in the immediate vicinity were interviewed.
None of them were able to give us a good description of the suspects.
The victim Richard Conover was taken to the city hall where Frank and I talked to him for over an hour.
8.14 p.m.
Mr. Conover, we need your help.
If we don't have it, our job's going to be five times as hard.
I've told you I'm not going to put my family in jeopardy.
Well now look, we'll put a policeman in your house.
He'll be there 24 hours a day until we come up with a thieves.
There'll be an officer with your children.
Nobody's going to get in there.
That's ridiculous.
What do you mean?
I'm not going to subject them to that kind of supervision.
Well then maybe you better take another look Mr. Conover.
There are two men in this city who've held you up and they've made threats on your life.
Now we don't blame you for being concerned but this isn't going to help.
Unless you go along with us our hands are tied.
There isn't anything we can do.
You've got no reason to believe that these men aren't going to try to get at you even if you don't talk.
You're the only one who can identify them.
Pretty soon they're going to think about that and then we won't be able to stop them.
You and your family are in trouble now whether you talk to us or not.
Alright, I'll tell you.
The suspects were positively identified as Timothy Rankin and Shelly Mitchell.
Additional bulletins were gotten out on the two men and the search for them was intensified.
Officers were dispatched to Conover's home in the event that the two thieves tried to make good their threat.
Rankin's brother was re-questioned at Georgia Street Juvenile but either he couldn't or else he wouldn't aid us in apprehending him.
Eleven thirty that night, Rankin and I were ready to leave the office.
Did you sign the log?
Yeah, let's go.
I got it.
Robbery Friday.
Hello.
Robbery Friday.
Oh, yeah, Benson.
Wait a minute.
Give me that again, will you?
Give me that again, will you?
Be right out.
Benson and Stromwell.
Yeah?
They found the suspects.
In canvassing the area around the hot dog stand, officers Benson, Stromwell and Herman had checked the hotel.
When the clerk was shown pictures of the suspects, he said the two men who looked like the pictures were staying in the place.
However, when the rooms were checked at the suggestion of the manager, Rankin and Mitchell were not there.
They staked out the room and we were called.
When Frank and I arrived, we took up our positions in the room while the other officers covered the entrances to the hotel.
Four fifteen a.m. We waited.
What time you got?
Wait a minute.
Not hard to see without a light.
Four thirty.
Well, the hats did a good job.
Yeah, like finding a needle.
Mm-hmm.
You heard how Herman's coming with the books?
I talked to him the other day. He said he doesn't think he's ever going to make a lawyer.
It's rough with the hours he's got.
Yeah, it works out though.
What do you mean?
He told me that when he and Stromwell got a stakeout together, they'd ask each other questions, you know, and try to study that way.
That's a hard way to do it.
All right, Mr. Holder, right there.
I'm doing like you say. I'm not going to cause no trouble.
Turn around. Face the wall.
Yes, sir. Just like you say.
Come on, move.
Hands up on the wall.
Yes, sir.
I'm doing it just like you said. I'm not rough.
Here you are, Joe.
Where'd you get this gun, I reckon?
Shelly gave it to me. That's the truth, honest, mister. I got it from Shelly.
All right, put your hands behind you.
Yes, sir. Right behind me.
All right, you can turn around now.
Don't shoot, mister. Please don't shoot.
Turn around.
Yes, sir.
Where's Mitchell?
I don't know.
Oh, come off it. Now, where is he?
Well, I don't know, mister. That's the truth. I just don't know.
Well, look, if I did, I'd tell you, honest, I would.
When'd you see him last?
A couple hours ago.
Where?
A coffee place on Vermont, sir.
Is he still there?
I don't know.
What was he doing?
He was talking to another fella.
Who?
A guy named Randolph Bennett, sir. I'm not sure that's his real name, though.
Is he coming back?
No, sir. He doesn't live here.
Clerk says he does.
Who are you talking about?
Mitchell.
Oh, I meant Bennett. He doesn't live here. Mitchell does, but Bennett doesn't.
Mm-hmm. Now, how about an answer?
Well, I'm sorry, sir. I don't know what you're talking about.
Mitchell, is he coming back?
Well, I don't think so.
Why do you say that?
Well, we had a fight. I don't think he'll be back, sir.
What'd you fight about?
Well, it was something he wanted me to do. I didn't want any part of it.
What was it?
Well, he said if I didn't go along with him and Bennett, they'd kill me, and I didn't like the deal.
What deal?
Well, him and Bennett, they got a caper planned. I was supposed to go with them, but I didn't want to, sir.
Honest, that's the truth. I really didn't want to.
Yeah.
You see, I was supposed to steal a car for him to use, and the more I thought about it, I didn't want to get in any more trouble than I am now.
The two of you hit the loan company this afternoon?
Yeah, that's right, sir.
This fella Bennett, he was with you?
No, sir. We met him tonight. Him and Shelley planned this other deal. They wanted me to go with them, but I didn't want to.
Honest, that's the God's truth, sir. I didn't want to. That's why we had this fight.
Well, what's the deal?
Well, they figured to start out about nine in the morning. Shelley's got it all figured.
They say they can hit about eight places, and the two of them are going to leave town.
What are you talking about?
Well, what about this fella Bennett? You know him?
No, sir. He's a friend of Shelley's. They've known each other, though, for a long time.
Where is he from?
Oh, back east someplace. I'm not sure where. I just know the cops are after him.
Why?
Well, he broke out of jail while he was waiting to be tried.
What was the charge?
Kidnapping and murder.
We left the hotel room and picked up the other officers. We had Tim Rankin point out the coffee stand where he'd last seen Shelley Mitchell, and then we called a radio car and turned Rankin over to the uniformed men.
While Benson, Stormwall, and Herman covered the rear entrance of the place, Frank and I went in the front door.
There they are, John. Halfway down.
Yeah. Let's go.
Oh, I should know that guy's always caught bait when it comes to doing something back down.
A lot of fun, kid.
Well, we don't have to tip. Yeah? You guys got a license to listen?
Shelley Mitchell.
Cops!
Come on, get up.
You okay, Joe?
Yeah.
What about Bennett?
He's all right.
Lousy cops. Lousy rotten cops.
Turn around.
Give me your cups, will you, Joe?
Come on, turn around.
I'll take care of Bennett.
All right, Mitchell, turn around.
All the stinkin' deals.
All right, come on, move.
How'd you get to me?
Why'd you worry about that?
Rotten as lousy as you'll ever hurt a...
Where'd you get this gun?
I bought it.
From the government, huh?
Well, that's none of your business.
All right, we'll go your way.
Lousy 12 hours. 12 more hours you'd have missed us.
This afternoon, we'd have been on our way. You'd have never found us.
Yeah, you really believe that, don't you?
Oh, sure. We'd have gotten the story. You'd have been dead.
Lookin' all around. Never found us.
Yeah, just like now.
The story you have just heard is true.
The names were changed to protect the innocent.
On September 16th, trial was held in Department 92's
Superior Court of the State of California
in and for the County of Los Angeles.
In a moment, the results of that trial.
Homer Norman Rankin was referred to juvenile court
and after a hearing was made, a ward of the state.
Timothy Alfred Rankin and Shelley Vincent Mitchell
were tried and convicted of robbery in the first degree, one count.
They received sentence as prescribed by law.
Robbery in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment
in the state penitentiary for a period of not less than five years.
Randolph Bennett, alias James Virgil Nicholson,
was held for New Jersey authorities to answer charges of murder,
kidnapping, and escape.
You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files.
Technical advice comes from the Office of Chief of Police, W.H. Parker,
and the Sinclair's Police Department.