Dragnet: The Big Siege 05/24/1955

Summary

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Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Dragnet: The Big Siege (05/24/1955)

Release Date: March 3, 2026
Host: Choice Classic Radio
Episode Theme:
A tense Dragnet episode dramatizing the citywide manhunt and dangerous siege to capture a violent bank robber in Los Angeles, highlighting the procedural approach of Joe Friday and Frank Smith amid mounting casualties.

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Episode Overview

This episode of Dragnet, titled "The Big Siege," plunges listeners into the aftermath of a brutal daytime bank robbery that leaves a guard dead. Detective Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith methodically investigate, track leads, and—joined by a citywide police response—close in on the desperate suspect, Bud Carey. The episode builds toward a riveting standoff and shootout, with vivid dialogue reflecting classic Dragnet's focus on gritty realism and the personal toll of police work.

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Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

1. The Robbery and Its Immediate Aftermath

• [00:46–02:40]
  • Incident: A dangerous gunman has robbed a bank at Melrose and Fountain. The elderly guard attempted to intervene, but the robber’s gun jammed, and he was pistol-whipped. He dies at the hospital before giving a statement.
  • Quote:

    "Yeah, when the thief left the bank, the guard tried to stop him. Older man pulled a gun, misfired pistol, whipped the old guy. He's in critical condition." – Sgt. Joe Friday ([02:25])

• Mood: Grim, urgent; the officers note the killer’s recklessness signals further danger.

2. Investigation and Vehicle Trace

• [03:16–04:17]
  • Detectives coordinate with other teams, collect witness statements, and quickly identify the getaway car’s license plate via a helpful newsboy.
  • The car is soon found to be stolen, suggesting a hardened criminal.
  • Quote:

    "An immediate check was made with the Department of Motor Vehicles...car was stolen a week ago." – Frank Smith ([04:17])

3. Suspect Identification

• [05:16–05:37]
  • Through diligent work, a bank teller team identifies the perpetrator from mug shots as Thomas “Bud” Carey, 26, a career criminal with a parole violation.
  • Quote:

    "The hold up man. We found his picture." – Mrs. Carey ([05:29])

• The detectives reseed the city with bulletins bearing his identity and begin checking known hangouts.

4. Interview with the Suspect’s Mother

• [06:18–10:37]
  • Friday and Smith visit Carey’s estranged, embittered mother, in a poignant, hard-edged exchange revealing a troubled family history and a sense of futility.
  • Notable Quotes:

    "Know why it don't do no good? Because you don't listen. You can stand right in front of him and scream the top of your head right off and he don't hear you." – Mrs. Carey ([08:34])
    "All the tears. I'm tired of crying. I'm tired of working. I'm tired of being alive. I used to pray for him...I figured I was praying for the wrong thing. So I changed. I know him. I know how he thinks and what he'll do. He's mean. In the soles of his feet, he's mean. I still pray. Maybe you're the one to do it." – Mrs. Carey ([09:46])
    "What's that?" – Frank smith
    "Kill him." – Mrs. Carey ([10:27])

  • Tone: Bleak and emotionally raw, underscoring the generational cost of crime and the limits of police work.

5. Citywide Manhunt and Second Attack

• [10:37–11:45]
  • The police mobilize, set up roadblocks, and eventually spot Carey in Valley after he shoots a gas station attendant during another botched escape.
  • Quote:

    "Kerry pulled into a gas station in Riverside. Attendant recognized him, tried to stall. Kerry got wise, started to leave...Pulled a gun, shot the man up pretty bad." – Sgt. Joe Friday ([11:33])

6. Siege at the Suburban House

• [12:12–21:19]
  • Carey is cornered in a house in the San Fernando Valley. Officers strategize deployment around the building, learn the floor plan, and plan to use tear gas.
  • The tension escalates as the real possibility of hostages is discovered, leading to a halt in aggressive tactics.
  • Quote:

    "Give him a chance to walk out. It'll be his choice." – Sgt. Joe Friday ([13:50])
    "He can't win, you know that. Get out of there." – Det. Frank Smith, over bullhorn ([14:10])

• Efforts to talk Carey out fail, entering a new phase of danger.

7. Discovery of Hostage and Tactical Operation

• [17:47–21:41]
  • Detectives spot a woman (Mrs. Bush) inside, confirming Carey has a hostage. Tear gas and triple-chaser grenades are prepared.
  • Officers coordinate a careful entry and successfully extract the hostage.
  • Notable Quotes:

    "He's crazy. That man's crazy. If you haven't got it, you need to kill me, child." – Mrs. Bush ([22:08])
    "You'll have to shoot him, ma'. He told me so himself. Said you wouldn't take him alive. Told me if you tried, he'd take a couple of you with him." – Mrs. Bush ([22:52])

8. Final Showdown and Death of the Suspect

• [23:00–25:33]
  • Officers give Carey a final ultimatum; after noncompliance, more gas is deployed and Carey attempts to fight his way out, armed and dangerous.
  • He is shot and killed by police.
  • Quotes:

    "Toss some more in. It's got to come out pretty quick. Yeah. There he is." – Sgt. Joe Friday ([24:54])
    "How about it? It's all right. Must have been dead when he hit the floor." – Det. Frank Smith ([25:22])

  • Somber reflection on the outcome, with a hint of moral ambiguity.
  • Quote:

    "We were lucky." – Sgt. Joe Friday ([25:33])
    "I don't know what we had to kill him." – Det. Frank Smith ([25:34])

9. Case Resolution

• [25:44–27:42]
  • The episode closes with the official coroner’s finding: Carey was killed in an attempt to resist arrest; the officers are cleared of blame.
  • Quote:

    "The story you have just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent..." – Sgt. Joe Friday ([25:44])

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• "[He] was mean. In the soles of his feet, he’s mean. I still pray. Maybe you’re the one to do it... Kill him." – Mrs. Carey ([09:46; 10:27])
• "You'll have to shoot him, ma'. He told me so himself. Said you wouldn't take him alive. Told me if you tried, he'd take a couple of you with him." – Mrs. Bush ([22:52])
• "We were lucky." – Sgt. Joe Friday ([25:33])
• "I don't know what we had to kill him." – Det. Frank Smith ([25:34])

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• The robbery & victim’s death: [00:46–03:16]
• Suspect and car identified: [03:44–05:37]
• Carey’s mother’s testimony: [06:18–10:37]
• Manhunt intensifies: [10:37–11:45]
• Siege preparation and neighborhood evacuation: [12:12–13:50]
• Attempts to negotiate with Carey: [14:10–14:33]
• Discovery of hostage & tactical entry: [17:47–22:15]
• Final ultimatum, shooting, and death: [23:00–25:33]
• Official conclusion and moral reflection: [25:44–end]

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Tone and Style

The episode is stark, procedural, and emotionally weighty, with an unvarnished depiction of police work. Dialogue is terse, driven, and sometimes bleak—especially in the exchanges with Carey’s mother and the hostage. It’s a classic Dragnet presentation: no melodrama, but a relentless march from crime to consequence, pausing to reflect—however briefly—on the cost to all involved.

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Summary

"Dragnet: The Big Siege" delivers a gripping, methodical tale—from the initial crime scene to an explosive final standoff—rich with detail and an undercurrent of moral ambiguity. With a strong sense of realism and a sobering conclusion, it captures the challenges, risks, and human tragedy interwoven in police work during the golden age of radio.

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Transcript

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[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Dragnet. 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. A gunman has robbed a bank in your city. From his method of operation, you know he's dangerous. Your job, get him. Dragman. 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, 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.

[Detective Frank Smith]

It was Wednesday, May 4th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A robbery detail. My partner's Frank Smith, the boss of Chief of Detective Stad Brown. My name was Friday. It was 12:36pm when I got the call. And it took me eight minutes to get back to the City Hall Robbery Squadron. Back here, Joe?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, back here.

[Detective Frank Smith]

What's up? Bank jabbing, slugging.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We got a rule on where. Corner, Melrose and Fountain.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Anybody else on it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, JJ and Murph went out.

[Detective Frank Smith]

All right, let's go. All right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Friday. Smith. Yeah, look, you two going to cover the bank? Hold up.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah, we're just leaving.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Donald called in. He's out with JJ and Murph. They got it covered out there. Skipper wants you to tag Georgia street and talk to the guard, see if he can get any information out of him. All right.

[Detective Frank Smith]

What's the name?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I haven't got it. There's a uniformed man with him. Old guy's in pretty bad shape. Yeah, when the thief left the bank, the guard tried to stop him. Older man pulled a gun, misfired pistol, whipped the old guy. He's in critical condition. We just got word that you can talk to him. If you get right over there, better make it fast.

[Detective Frank Smith]

All right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

And good luck. Yeah, we gotta come up with an identification. We gotta get it in a hurry. The guy's still running. Matter of time before somebody gets in his way. Yeah, we can't count on it. Next time the gun jamming.

[Detective Frank Smith]

12:47pm Frank and I left the City hall and drove over to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital. It took us five and a half minutes. Traveling code three. Went up to the third floor and met the officer who had been with the guard.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You fellas from Central?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah. Friday and Smith want to see the victims.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You missed him.

[Detective Frank Smith]

What do you mean?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He died five minutes ago.

[Detective Frank Smith]

We checked with the doctor in attendance and found that the victim had said nothing to aid in identifying the suspect. We returned to the office. A local broadcast on an APB had been gotten out on the man carrying his description. The crew from the crime lab had gone over the premises of the bank without gaining any new information. The clerks and tellers had been brought to the City hall to check the mug books. Everything possible was being done to apprehend the bank guard's killer. But without being able to identify him, the job was almost impossible. At 2:48pm we got a call from Captain Donahoe.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That's right, Skipper. No, they're in the mug room now.

[Detective Frank Smith]

No, not yet.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Wait a minute. Joe, you want to toss me that pad there?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes, there you go, Skipper.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah,

[Detective Frank Smith]

I see. I got it. No, we'll check right away. Yeah, as soon as we find out. Yes, sir. All right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Goodbye.

[Detective Frank Smith]

What do you got? Checked around the neighborhood. Found a newsboy, saw the suspect leave the bank.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, Kid got the license number.

[Detective Frank Smith]

An immediate check was made with the Department of Motor Vehicles and with our vehicle records. It took us two minutes to get the information. Yeah, we figured it'd turn out that way. Hey, want to give me the address? All right. Okay, we'll run it out. How about car was stolen a week ago. A team of men went out to talk to the owner of the automobile. Additional broadcasts were gotten out on the stolen car carrying the license number, the make and model description. In the event the car was found abandoned, it was to be staked out and we were to be notified. Roadblocks were set up in the area adjacent to the bank and all vehicles were checked. Captain Donahoe came in from the scene and a meeting was held between him and Chief of Detective Stad Brown. At the time, 25 officers from robbery Division were trying to find a lead to identify the thief. We knew what he looked like what kind of car he was driving. We knew what kind of gun he had and how much money he'd stolen. But we didn't know who he was or where to find him. The night dragged on. At 1:26am we got our first break in the case.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Excuse me.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes, ma'?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Am. I'm one of the bank tellers.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

The officer who was with us went out to bring in some coffee.

[Detective Frank Smith]

I see.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

He said if we found anything come in here.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yes, that's right.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Well, we have. All of us agree. We're real sure.

[Detective Frank Smith]

What is it?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

The hold up man. We found his picture.

[Detective Frank Smith]

The suspect was identified as Thomas Bud Carey, WMA, 26 years. According to his package, he'd been arrested the first time when he was 16. He'd served a total of five and a half years in state institutions. We checked with Fred Galloway of the Adult Authority and found that there was an outstanding warrant on carry for parole violation. Additional broadcasts were gotten out carrying his name and description. Officers in the field were notified of the latest developments while other teams of men covered Carrie's known hangouts and friends. Frank and I left the office and drove out to see his mother. She lived in a rundown apartment house on the east side of town. The building was dark when we got there. Yeah, here it is. Number five.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Watch a step now.

[Detective Frank Smith]

You ought to put a light in here. This ought to be it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah,

[Detective Frank Smith]

Maybe an easy carry might be here.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Who is it?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Open up.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

What do you want?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Police officers who want to talk to you.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Nothing for the cops. Get out here and leave me alone.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Come on, Miss Carrie, open up.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

I ain't Miss Carey no more. Now go away.

[Detective Frank Smith]

We can do it two ways. You can talk to us here. We can go downtown.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

What's it about?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Your son,

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Arnie. Where's he going?

[Detective Frank Smith]

We want to check.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

For what? There ain't nothing here. One lousy room. That's it. You can see it's the kitchen. Better take a look in the stove. Might be something there.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Place it's clean, Bill.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Not true either. Now what do you want?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Have you seen your son?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Is he in trouble again?

[Detective Frank Smith]

We'd like to talk to him.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

What's he done now?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You know where he is?

[Detective Frank Smith]

No. You know where we can find him?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

I haven't seen him for a couple of months. Might as well be dead. Well, he isn't any difference to me one way or the other.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You know where he lives?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

It ain't here.

[Detective Frank Smith]

That's no kind of an answer.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Question don't fit either. Look I'll tell you. I'm his mother. Long time ago. Gave him to the world. I've had trouble ever since. Gallagher again.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Sleep with the radio on, lady? You got any idea we can find your son?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

No.

[Detective Frank Smith]

You got any close friends, maybe?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Yes. I don't know.

[Detective Frank Smith]

How about girls?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

What about.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Has your son got one?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Last time I saw him, he had a couple. Both of them married. Same as always. He couldn't do anything the easy way.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It wasn't a problem.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

He'd make one.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Is there any place he'd go if he was in trouble?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

What kind, ma'?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Am?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

What kind of trouble? What you done this time?

[Detective Frank Smith]

It'll be better if we talked to him about it.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Yeah, always that way. Talk to him do any good? I tried for a lot of years. Didn't do no good. Know why?

[Detective Frank Smith]

What's that?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Know why it don't do no good?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Go ahead.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Because you don't listen. You can stand right in front of him and scream the top of your head right off and he don't hear you.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Is that right?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

He was little. First time I caught him stealing, I talked all day and all night. For a week I talked. He stood there and looked at me. It was over. You know what he did? You know?

[Detective Frank Smith]

No, ma'.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Am.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Did it again. Every time he turned around, he stole something. I tried it all. Beatings, yelling, all of it. I tried it all. His father walked out when Bud was six, just by herself. Did everything I could to bring him up right. Read the books, saw the minister. Even had the relief people talk to him. He just didn't listen. Yeah, that time when he was 16, when he first picked him up. I thought that might do it. You know, being in jail, judge in the court. Oh, I prayed it wouldn't change.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Didn't.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

A couple of days later, he was right back.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Can you tell his probation officers about it?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Bud was 5 10. He was 16. Weighed 170 pounds. If I'd opened my mouth, he'd hit me.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Pretty hard thing to say, isn't it?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

It's harder to live with all the time. All the tears. I'm tired of crying. I'm tired of working. I'm tired of being alive. I used to pray for him. Ask God to make him come out as a big, good man. Prayed and I prayed. I figured I was praying for the wrong thing. So I changed. I know him. I know how he thinks and what he'll do. He's mean. In the soles of his feet, he's mean. I still pray. Maybe you're the one to do it.

[Detective Frank Smith]

What's that?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Kill him.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Frank and I arranged for a stake out on the building. Then we drove back to City Hall. Captain Donahoe and Chief Brown were directing the search from the robbery office. The morning papers had carried the story and we were receiving calls from citizens who'd seen Carrie. From the report, it was believed he'd gotten out of the blockade area and he was heading for the San Fernando Valley. Roadblocks were thrown up on streets leading off the freeway and additional men were called in from the Valley Division to aid us in the search. 7:42am it had been 19 hours since Kerry had held up the bank. In that time, the entire facilities of the police department had been devoted to his capture. Lt. Dave Carey from the Sheriff's Office had joined Captain Donahoe and was coordinating their activities with ours. 7:45am Frank got back with some hot coffee.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Anything new?

[Detective Frank Smith]

No. Got a report Carrie was seen at the vinyl cutoff check out? No. No yet.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I got some coffee for you, George.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Oh, thanks. Anything happen?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, we got him pinned down.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Where?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Valley.

[Detective Frank Smith]

A lot of ground.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, we just got a call. Kerry pulled into a gas station in Riverside. Attendant recognized him, tried to stall Kerry got wise, started to leave.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Pulled a gun, shot the man up pretty bad.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Kill him?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, got him in Valley Emergency.

[Detective Frank Smith]

What about Carrot?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Still loose. Toner. The Oscar Friday Smith. We got him.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Where?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Broke into a house on Woodman. A couple of motorcycle officers got him pinned down.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Let's go.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Joe.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Tag the business office. Check out everything in the racks.

[Detective Frank Smith]

All right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Go with him, Frank. We'll need gas, shells and masks, barricade and penetration. Better take a box of double odds for the shotguns and plenty of.45s.

[Detective Frank Smith]

You be there.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Leaving now. I'll go with Joan Franks again. Okay, let's go. That's getting rougher.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What about the house he's picked?

[Detective Frank Smith]

What do you mean?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Who's in it, what kind of place it is?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Doesn't make a lot of difference. We still got the same job. We gotta get him out. We left the City hall and drove out to the Valley. Code 3. By the time we'd gotten there, several other officers from Central Robbery and the Valley Division were on the scene. We talked with Sergeant Pat Murphy of our office.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you know about the place? Six rooms. Here, let me lay it out for you. Got a pencil?

[Detective Frank Smith]

I got a pen. Here. Oh, thanks.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right. Now, the house is built in the shape of a U. The living room runs along the front. The dining room here on the corner here?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now, the kitchen is here and here's the back door.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Any cover there?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Officers are founding while watching it.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

There's a closet here off a service port on the other side. There's a bedroom here, door for bath and another bedroom. Just the two doors? Yeah, the front and the one off the kitchen.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Where'd you get this layout?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I talked to the woman next door. She's a friend of the family, owns the place. Been inside a lot. Where are they with the family?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We're not sure. Her neighbor says she thinks they're all out. And the man goes to work at 6 when we usually drives a kid to school about 7:30. Who put out the car motor? Officers. They saw the car, parked the car curb went to check it out. Curry was inside. He made the house.

[Detective Frank Smith]

They tried to get him out yet?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, they weren't sure he was alone.

[Detective Frank Smith]

How'd you do?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, we got here right after they did that time we got to Kirby, started to shoot. Any chance of getting to him from the back of the house? It'd be rough. The shades are all pulled down. Hard to tell where he is. If we go in, he could be sitting under the window waiting for us.

[Detective Frank Smith]

How about the phone?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We tried. He won't answer. All that?

[Detective Frank Smith]

All of him?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Much as we've got. Well, what do you want to do? Give him a chance to walk out. It'll be his choice.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Talk to him?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. Give him a chance to open the door. Well, it's gonna be hard. We haven't been able to get near the place. Big things to make sure he's alone. As far as we've been able to tell, he is. There's no movement inside, no noise. Trying to round up the family now. Can't wait for that. Let's get on it.

[Detective Frank Smith]

I'll try to talk to him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You can't make it, Joe. He's in a box and he knows it.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, maybe that'll bring him out.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You want to do it? Go ahead. All right, he makes a move, get out fast.

[Detective Frank Smith]

I won't need that. We'll give you coverage. Last time you heard from me was in the living room, is that right?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. There's three windows on the left there.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Okay.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Easy, Joe.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Kerry. Kerry. Kerry. Come on, Kerry. You can't sit in there forever. Play it smart. Walk outside and it'll be all right. Don't cause any more trouble now. How about it, Carrie? You're making it rougher on yourself. Come on out, Carrie. You can't win, you know that. Get out of there.

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[Detective Frank Smith]

I don't have to tell you it didn't work.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Clock ran out before you started. Carrie isn't going to walk.

[Detective Frank Smith]

No.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, he called it.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yep.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Get the gas guns.

[Detective Frank Smith]

The people living across the street and on each side of the house were asked to leave their homes in the event there would be any more shooting. The riot guns were brought from the car and they were loaded with penetration gas shells. Because of the physical layout of the house, it was decided to shoot into the rear of the building and try to drive the suspect toward the front of the place. Officer Murphy, along with Lt. Stoner went back to the alley that ran along the rear of the property. The two uniformed men covered the sides of the house and Frank and I took up our stations in front of the building. 9:14am how's the time? They ought to be in position. You all set on that gun? Yeah. You think you'll give up? I don't know. Flip a coin. Ought to be laying it in now. Pretty quick. There it goes. The way the house is divided, he could close the doors to the back room and keep us going for a while. At least he'll have an idea where he is in the house. Yeah, I'm sure.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Pouring it in.

[Detective Frank Smith]

That's lousy stuff, tear gas. Lousy. Still remember it from the academy, Frank? Huh? Front window.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

See it?

[Detective Frank Smith]

No. Shade was pulled by. I think I saw something. Get the Stoner. Tell him to hold the gun? Yeah, There's a woman in there with him. Because of the possibility that there might be another person in the house, all shooting into the building was stopped. An immediate effort was made to identify the other person. The owner of the place, Virgil Bush, was contacted. He told us that he and his wife had left the house at about the same time. She'd taken their son to a neighborhood school, and then he thought that she'd return to the house. A check was made at the school and the youngster was found to be present. From all indications, Mrs. Bush was in the house with Carrie and was being held a hostage. 10:56am we met with Captain Donahoe and Lieutenant Stoner.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Any chance you were wrong, Joe?

[Detective Frank Smith]

No, I don't think so. Right after the guns went off, I thought I saw the woman at the front window. Looked like she's trying to get out. What do you want to do now, Skipper?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Not much left. Woman's got to get out of there before we can go in after Carrie. Best way to do that, screw in after.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah. What about using triple chasers?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Might work.

[Detective Frank Smith]

If we go in the back way, we can drive Carrie toward the living room. Yeah, but what if he takes the woman with him? Keep him busy enough and he won't

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

figure she's giving him plenty of trouble by this time. Gonna be rough for him to drag her along then.

[Detective Frank Smith]

It might work.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Who's going in, Frank?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Now, you can do it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You can give us a cover. Where are you gonna make it?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Which room did you hit, Stoner?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Back bedroom in the kitchen. That covers both sides of the house, then? Yeah.

[Detective Frank Smith]

The gas holding?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

As far as we can tell, it's still there.

[Detective Frank Smith]

It might be better than to go into the bedroom, drive Carrie into the living room. Hope we can pick up the woman on the way.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right. You got the masks? I'll give them. Want to give me a hand, Frank? Yeah, we'll give you all the COVID we can, Joe.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Good.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We can't shoot into the house. We'll make Carrie think we are. All right, Once you got the woman, bring her out.

[Detective Frank Smith]

All right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

If Carrie goes into the living room, don't try to go after him. Let him sit for a while. We'll take care of the rest of it later.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Okay.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Here you go, Joe.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Here. The triple chasers. 6.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Something ought to do, huh?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, I'll take the saw off. You should be able to handle him with that. Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

I don't have to tell either one of you to take it easy.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Nope.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We want that woman, but we want her alive. Anything comes up that gets in the way, pull out. Don't wait to ask questions.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, get on it.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Let's go for it. Right. Joe? Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Carries rough. He's playing for keeps. You know he'll kill you if he gets a chance.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, that makes it easy. We won't give him one. Frank and I went around to the back of the house and put on the gas masks. He loaded the shotgun, flipped off the safety. I checked the triple chasers. They're about the size of a beer can and they're built like a hand grenade. Two seconds after the pin is pulled and the lever is released, the shell explodes into three parts. Each of them throws out a large quantity of tear gas. By using them, an officer can completely fill an area with gas almost immediately. A few minutes after we were in position, the covering gun fire started.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, that's it. Let's go.

[Detective Frank Smith]

You gonna toss one in the bedroom? Better make sure it's clear. Okay, I watch it. Go ahead, I'll cover you. All right. Oh, come on.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

All right,

[Detective Frank Smith]

that's clean. Yeah. Let's get the next room. This the bathroom, isn't it? Should be. Once you get the door, I'll talk the shelf. Right. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You got the pin?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Wait a minute. Oh, go ahead, Give it a second. Thank you, Marco.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

And it's empty, Bill.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Bedroom next. Uh huh. Hold it. Okay, now, let's go. It's Sherry. He's in the living room.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You better get him.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Wait a minute. Huh? On the bed. It's the woman. Come on, we better get her out of here. Right.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Is he naked?

[Detective Frank Smith]

I think so. Get that window, will you? Yeah. Wait till I get the shade. I'll go first and I'll take her on the outside. All right. Hold it right there. Carrie. Suss, Murph, Friday and Smith, give us a hand.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We got the woman Here, let me help.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Okay, Joe. All right, you got her? Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, come on, let's get her out here.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Wait till I get this mask off on you. Okay, Joe, wait on it. Yeah. How's the woman?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, she seems to be all right. Wanna give me a hand getting this tape off?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Thank God you made it. I thought he was gonna kill me. Every minute I thought he was gonna kill me.

[Detective Frank Smith]

All right now, Ms. Boyce, take it easy. He's crazy.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

That man's crazy. If you haven't got it, you need to kill me, child.

[Detective Frank Smith]

All right, Ms. Boyce, let's get out of here. Come on.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You got her huh?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah, Skipper.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You all right, ma'?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Am? Yes.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

It isn't his fault, though. I never seen anybody like that before.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right, Mrs. Bush. You want to take a karma?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Sure. Just a minute, ma'.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Am.

[Detective Frank Smith]

What can you tell us? How many guns Carrie's got?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

What?

[Detective Frank Smith]

How many guns did you see?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

What difference does it make?

[Detective Frank Smith]

Makes a lot of difference to us.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

I don't know. He's got a pistol.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah, we saw that. Anything else?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Yeah, he's got a rifle to a shotgun, I think.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did you see it?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

He brought it into the house.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Where is it?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

What do you mean?

[Detective Frank Smith]

What part of the house is it in, do you know?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

The front room, I guess. That's where it was the last time I saw it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Has he got any shells for it?

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

A lot of them at his pocket full.

[Detective Frank Smith]

All right, that's all. Thank you.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

You're gonna get him now.

[Detective Frank Smith]

We're gonna try.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

You'll have to shoot him, ma'.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Am.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

He told me so himself. Said you wouldn't take him alive. Told me if you tried, he'd take a couple of you with him.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Well, it isn't gonna change things.

[Mrs. Carey (Bud Carey's Mother)]

Hmm?

[Detective Frank Smith]

He's still going. Miss Bush was taken to one of the neighborhood houses and we got ready to take the suspect into custody. The house was completely surrounded. All of the doors and windows were covered. Each man was instructed to shoot to kill in the event Kerry tried to escape or made any effort to fire into the crowd. In a last attempt to get him out of the house without additional bloodshed. The bullhorn was brought from the car and we tried to talk to him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, Joe. All right, tell him this is the last time around. Joe, we're through playing games.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Right, Carrie. Carrie, give it up. Throw those guns out and you follow them. All right. We'll tell you where you stand. There are a lot of us out here. We've all got orders to kill you if you try anything. You think you can sit in there and we can't cut you, you got it wrong. We'll blow the roof off if we have to.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Tell him he's got 10 seconds, Joe. All right, count him out for him. Stand by with gas guns. Yes, Go ahead, Joe.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Terry, you're running out of time. We'll give you 10 seconds to come out of there. The last time, throw the guns out and come out after them. Ten seconds, Carrie. That's all you got. Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two. That's all you got. Time's up. All right, throw them in. Cover that front porch.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Here's the Machine gun Joe.

[Detective Frank Smith]

I got it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Must have good lungs. Yeah.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Toss some more in. It's got to come out pretty quick. Yeah. There he is.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Got that shotgun. He's down.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah. Easy now. Carry Terry.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Not moving. Cover.

[Detective Frank Smith]

Yeah. How about it? It's all right. Must have been dead when he hit the floor. Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We were lucky.

[Detective Frank Smith]

I don't know what we had to kill him.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The story you have just heard is true. The names were changed to protect the innocent. On Monday, May 9, an inquest was held in the coroner's office in and for the county of Los Angeles, State of California. The coroner's jury found that the death of Thomas Herbert Carey was caused by gunshot wounds resulting from an attempt to resist arrest. The officers were absolved from blame. Dragnet the story of your police force in action is a presentation of the United States Armed Forces Radio Service.

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