- 1 day ago
Friday and Gannon are working the day watch out of homicide when a phone call comes in from Ray Righetti, the manager of the Universal City branch of the Bank of America. Janet Ohrmund claims to have information of a kidnapping and ransom demand.
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00:27This is the city.
00:28Los Angeles, California.
00:30A lot of people earn a living here, and there are a lot of ways to do it.
00:35Some of them have jobs that weren't even thought of five years ago.
00:40Some of them are learning jobs guaranteed to be obsolete in another five.
00:45A few work in the cleanest places on earth, and a few don't.
00:52They all have one thing in common, it takes a day's work to get a day's pay.
00:57Not everybody buys the idea.
01:00There are a lot of ways around it.
01:01When somebody tries a shortcut with a gun, then it becomes my job.
01:05I carry a badge.
01:11It was Thursday, December 15th.
01:13It was cool in Los Angeles.
01:14We were working the day watch out of Homicide.
01:16The boss is Captain Hugh Brown.
01:18My partner's Bill Gannon.
01:19My name's Friday.
01:22We received a phone call from the city's largest bank.
01:25They had a woman at one of their branches.
01:27She had a problem.
01:28We had to try and solve it.
01:39The story you are about to see is true.
01:42The names have been changed to protect the innocent.
02:0810.17 a.m. Bill and I left P.A.B. and took the Hollywood Freeway toward Lancashire Boulevard.
02:15It took us 18 minutes to get to the Universal City branch of the Bank of America.
02:21We identified ourselves to the branch manager, Ray Rigetti.
02:25Rigetti explained he had asked the woman to wait in the conference room.
02:28I wanted as little fuss here in the bank as possible, you understand?
02:31Yes, sir, we understand.
02:33She didn't want to at first, but I told her that the only thing to do was to call you
02:35people.
02:36Do you know her? Does she have an account here?
02:37I think she just came into the first bank she saw.
02:40This way, please.
02:53Miss Orman, this is Sergeant Friday, Officer Gantt.
02:56How do you do, Miss Orman?
02:57Why don't you sit down, please?
03:03Well, I don't know what good you can do.
03:04He's got Miss Benson.
03:05He's got a gun pointed right at her.
03:07Could we have your full name, Miss Orman?
03:09Janet Orman.
03:10And your address?
03:11211 Central Park, South New York City.
03:14O-H-R-M-U-N-D.
03:16Everybody spells it wrong.
03:18Would you tell us about it, please?
03:20Well, I guess it was about 8.30 this morning.
03:23The doorbell rang, and I went to get it right away before they could ring again and wake Miss Vincent.
03:28I'd been up for a while, and I couldn't sleep.
03:30I only flew in yesterday afternoon.
03:32I guess I'm still on New York time.
03:34It takes a while to get adjusted.
03:38Well, anyway, I opened the door a little ways, and there was this young fellow.
03:43Before I could say anything, he poked a gun in through a crack in the door and made me let
03:47him in.
03:47He said if I did anything cute, he'd kill me.
03:50Is that the way he said it?
03:51His exact words.
03:53Then he made me take him back to Miss Vincent's bedroom and wake her up.
03:56You told him she was there?
03:57Oh, no.
03:58He knew it was her house.
03:59He said, where's Adele Vincent?
04:01She's the one I want.
04:02Everybody knows her, of course.
04:04Adele Vincent Cosmetics.
04:06My wife has a small bottle of cologne.
04:08It's a very expensive line.
04:09It's in all the finest shops and salon.
04:11Then what happened?
04:13Well, he took us back into the living room and made us sit on the couch.
04:15He had the gun pointed at us all the time.
04:18Told Miss Vincent that if she didn't give him $75,000, he'd kill her.
04:23We tried to tell him it's not easy to get that much in cash together, but he said he knew
04:28she had more than that.
04:29And that she spends that much every year on clothes.
04:32She doesn't, of course.
04:33She gets everything at a discount.
04:35Well, anyway, we talked about it for a few minutes.
04:37And then, just before 10, he told me to go out and get the money.
04:43He said, go to a bank or someplace.
04:47Well, he said that I have to be back with it by 12 o'clock noon or he's gonna kill
04:51her.
04:51And he's holding her now?
04:53He certainly is.
04:54May I have the address, please?
04:5710,328 Toluca Lake Avenue.
05:00Now, is there anybody else in the house?
05:02No.
05:02Can you give us a description of the man?
05:04Do we have to go through all this rigmarole?
05:06Yes, ma'am, I'm afraid we do.
05:08Well, it's using up valuable time.
05:11Well, he's about 5'9 or 10 inches tall.
05:15He's not bad looking.
05:18Heavy set.
05:20He weighs somewhere between 170, maybe 180 pounds.
05:25He has dark hair.
05:27He's maybe 23, 24 years old.
05:31He looked clean, at least he shaved this morning.
05:33Did he ever refer to himself by name?
05:35No.
05:36Any identifying marks or scars?
05:38No.
05:39Initials on his clothes, anything like that?
05:41No.
05:42How's he dressed?
05:44Well, he has on a green slip-over shirt with short sleeves.
05:51It's dark color, hunter green, I think.
05:55Dacron.
05:56And then he has on slacks.
05:59They're gabardine, cocoa brown.
06:03Fairly expensive.
06:05I guess, for out here, you'd say he's well-dressed.
06:10You're staying with Miss Vincenari?
06:11That's right.
06:12You're a friend of hers.
06:13No, I work for her.
06:15I thought I told you that.
06:16I've been with her for 11 years.
06:19I run her New York salon.
06:20Can you describe her?
06:22Well, she's lovely, of course.
06:23She's taller than I am.
06:26She's maybe five foot six in her stocking feet.
06:31She's 34 years old.
06:33She's blonde, fair, brilliant woman.
06:37And you're out here on business?
06:40Sergeant, I told this gentleman.
06:42I'm sorry.
06:44Rigetti.
06:45I guess you can see how upset I am.
06:48I told Mr. Rigetti that I'd let him call you because he said I couldn't get the money unless he
06:53did.
06:54Now, that's the only thing that's important right now is the money.
06:57These questions can wait.
06:59I'm afraid they can't, ma'am.
07:00It's just routine.
07:01It's perfectly ridiculous.
07:03Well, now, you said it yourself, Miss Ormond.
07:05What?
07:05It's not easy to get this much money.
07:07Do you have any identification, Miss Ormond?
07:10Oh, I see.
07:12Well, I'm not a crank or anything like that.
07:15I guess you do come up against them.
07:17Yes, ma'am.
07:18We do on occasion.
07:20Here's my driver's license, my social security card, my library card, my credit cards.
07:27You see, Miss Vincent has 14 salons around the country.
07:30The main office is here, of course.
07:32Once a year, each of her managers has to come out and spend three or four days with her.
07:36That's why I'm here.
07:37I don't mind telling you it's no picnic.
07:39She goes over your entire operation with a fine-tooth comb all day and half the night.
07:45Sometimes I have a headache the whole time until I get back on the plane again.
07:49The way she orders you around, fix coffee for her, things like that.
07:52Why didn't you go to the main office?
07:54Well, it's downtown. I hardly know how to get there.
07:57Go to telephone.
07:58Well, they wouldn't have $75,000 in cash on hand.
08:02They have a bank.
08:03Well, I don't know. All I could think of was to hurry.
08:06I'd seen this place when I was passing by, and so I came here.
08:09Mr. Regetti, I wonder if you have a private phone we might use.
08:12Yes, there's one outside just to your left.
08:14Thank you. Excuse us.
08:15Sergeant.
08:16Yes, ma'am.
08:17I guess it's important that you have all this information exactly correct.
08:21Yes, ma'am.
08:22Well, don't say where you heard it, but Miss Vincent really isn't as young as I am.
08:30She's 37 if she's a day.
08:46Joe, you think she's telling the truth?
08:48Yeah, I do.
08:56I reported the information we had to Captain Brown.
08:59He agreed we had to accept Miss Orman's story.
09:02He recommended that we make no attempt to move in on the house or to arrest the suspect
09:06until we had done everything we could for the safety of Miss Vincent, the hostage.
09:09The captain also decided we should try to get the money and deliver it to the suspect.
09:13It was just possible he'd release the two women.
09:1810.57 a.m.
09:19We continued questioning Miss Orman.
09:21Well, he wants the money in old 10s and 20s.
09:24No consecutive serial numbers.
09:25What kind of car did he drive?
09:27I'm pretty sure he walked to the house.
09:29Did he say what he was going to do after he gets the money?
09:31How he was going to leave?
09:32No.
09:33Are there cars at the house?
09:34Yes, Miss Vincent has two cars.
09:36A white Mercedes Benz and a gold Imperial with a black vinyl top.
09:40I don't suppose you know the license numbers.
09:42Well, the Mercedes is outside.
09:44I drove it here.
09:45Are they registered to Adele Vincent?
09:47I don't think so.
09:48They're probably owned by the firm.
09:49It's a tax thing.
09:51They must have a record of it downtown.
09:53Could you call and get the license number of the Imperial for us?
09:56I'll try it.
09:59Use mine, Miss Orman.
10:01Right this way.
10:03In.
10:04Right here.
10:05The skipper.
10:07Captain Brown contacted police chief Thad Brown.
10:11The chief agreed we should try to get the suspect to release the two women he was holding before we
10:15attempted to make an arrest.
10:16We were authorized to make arrangements with the bank to borrow $75,000 in used $10 and $20 bills.
10:2711.04 AM.
10:29I asked Mr. Rigetti to find out how quickly we could get the money and what the procedure was.
10:33He said it wouldn't be that easy.
10:34We don't have that much surplus cash.
10:36I don't understand.
10:37We hardly ever carry that much extra or anything like it.
10:40None of the branches do.
10:41We don't have any call for it.
10:42We do now.
10:42Is there someplace you can get it?
10:44In the Central Cash Vault.
10:45Would you see what you can do?
10:46It'll take time, Sergeant.
10:47That's something we don't have much of.
10:54Here's what's happening.
10:55The skipper's called the North Hollywood Division getting one of their area maps.
10:58He's keeping all the black and white units away from the house out of the area altogether.
11:02Nobody's to make any direct mention on the air about the kidnapping or what's happening.
11:06Handing all communications about it by telephone.
11:09They've alerted six detective units so far.
11:11They're probably calling in now.
11:13They'll cover the roads away from the house, try to pick him up when he leaves.
11:16Skipper got Ed Parker at home.
11:18It's his day off.
11:19He's got this panel truck.
11:20Yeah, I know.
11:21You'll be mobile unit one.
11:23Hoyt Porter and Bob Hunt have their own rifles.
11:25They've gone home to get them.
11:26Bob's taking a walkie-talkie.
11:27They'll be outpost one.
11:331110 AM.
11:34Janet Ormond got the license number of Adele Vincent's 1966 Imperial.
11:401147 AM.
11:41We continued questioning Ms. Ormond about the suspect.
11:44No, the one he has is much larger and it's shiny.
11:47It's chrome-plated.
11:48Nickel-plated.
11:49Which hand is he holding it in?
11:50The right hand.
11:52He kept pulling this thing back with his thumb.
11:54It's the hammer.
11:56I'm getting awfully worried.
11:58It's almost 12 o'clock.
11:59Everybody's doing the best they can, Ms. Ormond.
12:02Did he say anything about an accomplice?
12:04Somebody waiting for him with a car, maybe?
12:06No.
12:06Can you think of anything else he said?
12:08Anything he did that might be important to us?
12:11Well, just as I was going out, he said not to try anything funny.
12:15Are those the words he used?
12:17No.
12:18He said, I know you're going to try something funny,
12:21but it won't do you any good because I'll kill her if you do.
12:24Sergeant Friday, the money's here.
12:35Anderson, you're going next.
12:37This way.
12:42What's going on?
12:43Everybody's acting like it's a matter of life and death.
12:45It is.
12:521151 AM.
12:54There were nine minutes left.
12:55How much more time?
12:56Let's go.
12:57Joe, I haven't even got 20 of these cereals.
12:59Yeah, I know.
13:00Now, Ms. Ormond, we think he may take one of the cars.
13:02He may leave both of you in the house.
13:04He may take you with him.
13:05We don't know for sure what he's going to do.
13:07We'll have your house under surveillance at all times.
13:09I understand.
13:11He may kill us both.
13:13You don't have to say it.
13:14Don't you worry.
13:15We won't let that happen.
13:17I'll do it.
13:18I told Ms. Vincent I would.
13:21Ready?
13:22Yeah.
13:23Let's go.
13:37Oh, my driver's license.
13:39Did you give it back to me?
13:40Yes, ma'am.
13:41We'll follow you part of the way, Ms. Ormond.
13:43I don't like her, you know.
13:45Not a bit.
13:46Never have.
13:47I'm scared.
13:48If you ask me, I couldn't tell you why I'm doing this.
13:50Well, you've worked for her a long time.
13:53Yes.
13:53Habit.
13:54That might have something to do with it.
14:03Sergeant, that's a hell of a lot of money.
14:05I suppose she's not telling the truth.
14:08I suppose she is.
14:20I suppose she is.
14:2111.56am.
14:23We drove from the bank and proceeded to Toluca Lake Avenue.
14:26We followed Ms. Ormond's car toward the Vincent home.
14:35We turned off Toluca Lake Avenue at the 10,000 block and Ms. Ormond proceeded alone.
14:40We were two and a half blocks from the Vincent home.
14:42It was as close as we could get without being seen from the house.
15:0611.59am.
15:07We waited.
15:09All units concerned, Outpost One reports a white 1966 Mercedes sedan,
15:15licensed George Adam Nora 589, has pulled into Vincent driveway.
15:20A woman carrying a briefcase or a small suitcase has entered the residence.
15:25You know, we didn't count that money.
15:27Yeah, I know.
15:28It wasn't time.
15:29Something else, you didn't sign for it either.
15:31What do you mean I didn't sign for it? Why didn't you?
15:33It's your baby, Joe.
15:35I know, but partner, remember, it's 5050.
15:38I sure wish we'd counted that money and you'd sign for it.
15:46Sam Henry Adam 501, that's the Imperial.
15:49Give him a minute.
15:51Let's go.
16:131-K-80, 1-K-80.
16:151-K-80, go ahead.
16:161-K-80.
16:17We are proceeding northbound on Toluca Lake Avenue, approaching the 10-800 block.
16:22Suspect vehicle in sight, half a block behind us.
16:24It is a gold 1966 Imperial, with a black vinyl top, licensed Sam Henry Adam 501.
16:31Roger, 1-K-80.
16:32Let him close up a little now.
16:461-K-80.
16:471-K-80.
16:47Suspect vehicle has turned left onto Riverside Drive and is now proceeding westbound.
16:51We have him in sight.
16:53Roger, 1-K-80.
16:54Who's that he's got in the front seat?
16:56It's a woman.
16:57Doesn't look like Janet Ormond.
16:59No, she's a blonde.
17:011-K-80, 1-K-80.
17:031-K-80, go ahead.
17:05Suspect has a woman in the car with him.
17:07Could be second female victim, Adele Vincent.
17:09She's in the right front.
17:11Roger, 1-K-80.
17:13Is anybody checking the Vincent house?
17:15They're doing it now.
17:171-K-80, Roger.
17:22Roger.
17:22He's probably going down to the freeway at Laurel Canyon.
17:25Let's get up there.
17:30He turned right.
17:31Colfax Avenue.
17:321-K-80, 1-K-80.
17:331-K-80, go ahead.
17:35Suspect vehicle has turned right onto Colfax Avenue.
17:38Now proceeding northbound.
17:39We will continue west on Riverside Drive.
17:42Roger, 1-K-80.
17:43Now where is he, Eddie?
17:451-K-80.
17:46This is 1-K-80, go ahead.
17:481-K-80.
17:49Unit 4-K-32 now has suspect in sight.
17:53Proceeding northbound on Colfax.
17:55Continue northbound on Laurel Canyon.
17:57Roger.
18:02Unit 1-K-80.
18:041-K-80, go ahead.
18:0515-W-9 has checked the Vincent house.
18:07No one there.
18:08Suspect probably has both female victims in vehicle.
18:12One in the right front.
18:13The other, Janet Ormond, in the trunk or on the floor in the rear.
18:16Roger, 1-K-80.
18:17All units concerned.
18:19Suspect vehicle has turned left onto Victory.
18:23Now westbound.
18:2415-W-8 has vehicle in sight.
18:261-K-80, Roger.
18:27He's heading for that freeway all right.
18:29Well, if he gets on it, it's gonna be rough to catch him.
18:311-K-80, 1-K-80.
18:331-K-80, go ahead.
18:34We are now proceeding northbound on Laurel Canyon toward the freeway.
18:39Have other surveillance unit meet us at Kittredge and St. Clair.
18:42Roger.
18:431-K-80.
18:511-K-80.
18:521-K-80, go ahead.
18:5315-W-1 is in route to your location.
18:581-K-80 to control.
19:00We'll proceed to freeway.
19:01We will attempt to block northbound on-ramp at Victory.
19:05Have other unit block southbound on-ramp.
19:08Roger, 1-K-80.
19:09What do you got in mind?
19:11Let's try to fake an accident.
19:181234 PM.
19:19Sergeant Doug Bentley and his partner, Al Gastaldo,
19:21met us at the corner of Kittredge and St. Clair.
19:23We decided to block the freeway on-ramp just ahead of the suspect
19:27by faking an accident between two police units.
19:29This would give the officers in the pursuing vehicles
19:32the best chance of approaching the suspect without alarming him
19:35and afford a little more security for the two women hostages.
19:48Bentley and Gastaldo drove ahead of us in the left lane.
19:51At about 100 feet up on the ramp, Bentley cut across in front of us.
19:54Bill eased our vehicle into theirs.
20:00Al Gastaldo remained out of sight in the front seat.
20:03Doug Bentley, Bill and I got out to inspect the damage
20:06and exchange driver's licenses.
20:13There he is, third car down.
20:36There he is, third car down.
20:39I'm sorry, I'm on my way to call a tow truck now.
20:48We've had an accident up there.
20:50I can see that.
20:50Well, there was nothing else we could do.
20:52That guy cut right in front of us.
20:53I'm in a hurry.
20:54You might try swinging out, backing off the ramp.
20:57Be glad to give you a hand.
20:58Watch the traffic for you.
21:27Is Adele all right?
21:28She's fine.
21:29Yeah, I heard him say that if she tried to get help or she tried to jump out,
21:32he was gonna empty his gun into the back of the car, into the trunk at me.
21:35Yes, ma'am.
21:36You all right now?
21:37Yeah.
21:43You guys are really something else, aren't you?
21:45What do you mean by that?
21:46You sure don't believe in giving a guy much of a chance, do you?
21:49How much did you give those two women?
21:5412.39 PM.
21:56It was exactly two hours and 22 minutes from the time we had first been notified of the crime.
22:01Neither Adele Vincent nor Janet Ormond had been harmed.
22:04The suspect gave his name as Donald Joe Albers.
22:07He was informed of his constitutional rights.
22:101.17 PM.
22:11We took Albers downtown to Homicide Division.
22:13He made a complete statement and was booked on 209 PC, kidnapping for the purpose of robbery.
22:202.03 PM.
22:21We met in the captain's office to return the $75,000.
22:25Everyone concerned waited while the bank manager, Ray Rigetti, counted it.
22:30That's it.
22:31Right to the penny.
22:32You people, all of you, are to be complimented.
22:35It's a great deal of money to have been handled by as many different individuals as it was.
22:39All of those small bills are not a dollar short.
22:41I wonder if you'd mind signing this receipt, Mr. Rigetti.
22:44Not at all.
22:48You're a brave woman, Miss Ormond.
22:50Glad it all worked out.
22:52Friday and Gannon here will run you back to the bank.
22:54Be just a minute.
22:55Fine.
22:55Thank you, Captain.
23:08Wanna let me have that receipt, Gannon?
23:10Oh, yes, sir.
23:12Better let me have the other one, too.
23:14The other one?
23:14The checkout receipt for the money, the one you signed at the bank.
23:17You two know it's departmental policy.
23:20I'll wait for you outside, Joe.
23:24Uh, Skipper, would you like the door open or closed?
23:27Closed, with you inside.
23:55The story you have just seen is true.
23:58The story you have just seen is true.
23:58The names were changed to protect the innocent.
24:02On March 10th, trial was held in Department 183, Superior Court of the State of California, in and for the
24:08County of Los Angeles.
24:09In a moment, the results of that trial.
24:15The suspect was found guilty on two counts of kidnapping for the purpose of robbery.
24:20Along Wines
24:50King
24:50THE END
25:20THE END
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