Be a good witness

By Brian Livingston / staff writer

May 16, 2008 12:53 am

— Criminals are becoming more and more brazen in their acts as they victimize innocent civilians.
Two recent examples of this ongoing problem demonstrate just how fearless, or desperate, criminals can be. But one of the examples in particular clearly shows how the victim themselves and other citizens in the nearby area can help law enforcement catch those responsible.
On May 8, in the middle of the afternoon, a man was robbed at gunpoint in the 3500 block of 20th Street. The victim was slightly injured and the suspect fled on foot. Local law enforcement authorities are still looking for the suspect.
But on May 11, at about 9:15 p.m., a woman was robbed at gunpoint in a parking lot of a grocery store on North Hills Street. She and other citizens who were nearby were able to act as good witnesses to the incident resulting in the apprehension of two men.
Minutes later the suspected robber and his alleged accomplice were stopped by patrolmen of the Meridian Police Department and arrested. Patrolmen were able to gain the arrest within 15 minutes of the alleged incident due to the quick and accurate information provided by the victim and others.
Roderick Berry, 20, and 18-year old Travis R. Conner have been charged with armed robbery. Berry was given a $50,000 bond but Conner received no bond because he was already out on bond from a prior felony charge.
The victim received minor injuries and was treated and released at a local hospital.
"There are things you can do to help prevent becoming a victim," said MPD Lt. Dean Harper. "But that doesn't guarantee you total safety. Despite your best attempts, you could still be a target."
Just as in the earlier example, Harper advises residents to first comply with the suspect giving him your purse or wallet. He said there is nothing in that purse worth losing your life over. But at the same time, people should be good observers of what is happening. This will enable law enforcement to focus their assets and catch the suspect.
"Policemen mentally train themselves every day preparing themselves for situations they may encounter," Harper said. "There is no reason citizens shouldn't do the same."
Paramount to not becoming a victim is being aware of your surroundings. Who is standing around? Are they doing something suspicious? Should you avoid them?
Staying in well lit areas with a number of people around also helps but sometimes, as in the case of the woman, you can do many of the things right and still be singled out. That is when you become a witness.
"What color is the getaway car? What is the tag number? What is the direction of travel? There are so many quick and easy things a person can remember to tell us that will lead quickly to an arrest," Harper said. "But call us quickly. Don't call your spouse first. The sooner we can get to the area, the better chance we have of catching those responsible."