Dragnet: The Big Border (EP4999)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio | Dragnet: The Big Border (EP4999) Air Date: June 18, 2026 | Host: Adam Graham

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio features a classic episode of Dragnet titled "The Big Border," originally broadcast on March 20, 1952. The story follows Sergeant Joe Friday and Sergeant Ed Jacobs as they hunt down two escaped convicts, Andy Powell and Bertram Selby, whose crime spree threatens Los Angeles and eventually leads detectives on the trail toward the Mexican border. The episode is renowned for debunking popular myths about fugitives escaping justice by crossing international borders, illuminating the realities of cross-border law enforcement cooperation.

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Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

1. The Robbery Detail Assignment

• Setting the Scene (03:16–03:40)
  • Friday and Jacobs are assigned to track down two escaped convicts, Andy Powell and Bertram Selby, who are considered armed and dangerous.
  • Notable quote: "Two convicts escaped from the state penitentiary. They're heading for your city. They're armed. They boasted they won't be taken alive. Your job: Get 'em." — Sergeant Joe Friday (03:21)

2. First Lead: Interview with Ruth Thompson

• Meeting Powell's Ex-Fiancée (04:30–08:19)
  • Detectives question Ruth Thompson, who reveals Powell and Selby visited her earlier, demanded money and clothing under threat.
  • She is reluctant to cooperate, fearing for her safety, but admits to supplying them with money and her late father's gun.
  • Notable quote: "Said they'd come back and kill me if I even talk to you... I sure hope you don't find him." — Ruth Thompson (08:03)

3. Crime Spree in Los Angeles

• Escalating Robberies (09:37–13:54)
  • Powell and Selby commit a series of robberies to gather funds and supplies: a pawn shop, a dry goods store, a theater, a liquor store, and a nightclub (the 2050 Room).
  • Confirmation of their identities comes via eyewitnesses and their boldness.
  • Notable quote: "If you're going to hold up a place, you don't pick a joint where everybody knows you... You'd think he'd have better sense, wouldn't you?" — Mr. Saunders (Club Owner) (15:37)

4. Tracking the Escape

• Detective Work and Leads (13:54–19:27)
  • Detectives piece together the suspects’ movements, uncovering a pattern: after robbing for funds, they obtain a getaway car (a blue sedan) and possibly aim for the Mexican border.
  • A key clue: rolls of dimes and quarters from one of the robberies are found in the abandoned escape vehicle in San Diego.
  • Notable quote: "It's possible they're making a run for one of the border towns—Tijuana, Mexicali. Maybe Powell figured on more help from the Thompson girl... Enough to get him and Selby over into Mexico, huh?" — Joe Friday (11:47)

5. Crossing the Border and International Pursuit

• International Law Enforcement Effort (19:27–24:54)
  • Detectives coordinate with San Diego and Mexican authorities, distributing mug shots and canvassing Tijuana, Tecate, and eventually Ensenada.
  • The suspects are eventually tracked to Ensenada, Mexico, through a chance encounter—having reported their own pickpocketing to local police.

6. Arrest and Extradition

• Legal Drama and the Myth of Border Immunity (25:01–27:44)
  • Powell and Selby believe they are safe in Mexico, claiming police have "no jurisdiction."
  • Mexican authorities, however, decide to treat them as "undesirable aliens" and arrange for their deportation back to the U.S.
  • Notable exchange:
    • "Why don't you admit it? We got you beat. We got over the line. You can't touch us down here." — Andy Powell (26:15)
    • "A popular misconception, Mr. Powell. I'm afraid you have made a mistake." — Mexican Police Commandant (27:00)
    • "There's only one thing I know for sure, pal. San Quentin. You got out and you're going back." — Sergeant Joe Friday (27:32)

7. Conclusion and Real-Life Outcomes

• Wrap-Up (27:44–28:38)
  • Both men are returned to U.S. custody, tried, and convicted. They receive long prison sentences, with additional time for prison escape.
  • The Dragnet narrator recaps the results of the trial and sentences.

8. Adam Graham’s Post-Episode Commentary

• Reflection on Cultural Myths and Law Enforcement Realities (30:07–33:04)
  • Adam Graham discusses the enduring myth about criminals finding immunity by fleeing across the Mexican border, clarifying extradition realities and practical policing challenges.
  • Notable quote: "If, on the other hand, you stay relatively close to the border and you ... feel free to go into the police station to file a complaint about a pickpocket, then it will be a lot easier for you to be caught." — Adam Graham (31:44)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Reluctance and Fear:

  • "I'm engaged to a nice fella now. I don't want to get mixed up in this. Andy Powell's nothing to me." — Ruth Thompson (07:37)

• On the Myth of Safety Over the Border:

  • "You can't touch us in Mexico. It's against the law. You can't touch us." — Andy Powell (26:54)
  • "A popular misconception, Mr. Powell." — Mexican Police Commandant (27:00)

• Sergeant Friday on Relentless Police Work:

  • "There's only one thing I know for sure, pal. San Quentin. You got out and you're going back." — Sergeant Joe Friday (27:32)

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Important Timestamps

• [03:16–03:40] – Mission outlined; deadly nature of the fugitives.
• [04:30–08:19] – Ruth Thompson interview; critical break in the case.
• [09:37–13:54] – Catalog of robberies linked to Powell and Selby.
• [15:37] – Saunders' astonishment at being targeted by a familiar face.
• [19:27–24:54] – Evidence in San Diego; cross-border pursuit begins.
• [25:01–27:44] – Capture in Ensenada, legal arguments at police station.
• [30:07–33:04] – Adam Graham’s insightful post-episode commentary.

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Tone and Style

The episode sustains Dragnet’s matter-of-fact, methodical tone, emphasizing police procedure, the seriousness of violent crime, and the realities of jurisdictional boundaries. Adam Graham’s commentary adds historical context and practical analysis, maintaining an engaging yet informative delivery.

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Summary Takeaway

This Dragnet episode offers a gripping exploration of cross-border crime and debunks the myth of automatic immunity for fugitives fleeing to Mexico, underscoring the effectiveness of U.S.-Mexico law enforcement cooperation. Through sharp dialogue, memorable character moments, and real-world procedural details, listeners gain both a suspenseful detective tale and a dose of police history, reinforced by Adam Graham’s post-show analysis.

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Transcript

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnet. But first I want to encourage you to if you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And today's program is brought to you in part by the financial support of our listeners. You can support the show on a one time basis by mailing a donation to Adam Graham, P.O. box 15913. That's P.O. box 15913, Boise, ID 83715. You can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month at patreon.greatdetectives.net and I want to welcome our latest Patreon supporter. Thank you to Sandy, becoming a Patreon supporter at the master detective level of $15 or more per month. Again, thanks so much for your support, Sandy. Now, from March 20, 1952, here is the the Big Border.

[Narrator]

The story you are about to hear is true.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

[Narrator]

You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a robbery detail.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Two convicts escaped from the state penitentiary. They're heading for your city.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

They're armed.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

They boasted they won't be taken alive. Your job Get EM.

[Narrator]

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.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It was Wednesday, October 6th. It was cloudy in Los Angeles. We were working a day. Watch out of robbery detail. My partner's Ed Jacobs. The boss is Captain Didion. My name's Friday. We were on the way out from the office, and it was 2:40pm when we got to Kesterson Boulevard, number 1256.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Sounds like she's having a party, huh?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. Try it again, huh? Maybe they can't hear it inside.

[Mr. Dollar]

Mm.

[Ruth Thompson]

Yes?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Police officers, ma'. Am. You Ruth Thompson?

[Ruth Thompson]

Yes, that's right. What is it?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

My name's Friday. This is my partner, Sergeant Jacob, Central Robbery. We'd like to talk to you a few minutes if we could.

[Ruth Thompson]

Well, I have a party going on right now. A few of my friends are over. What'd you want, Sergeant?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

About an Andy Powell, Mr. Thompson. I understand you know him.

[Ruth Thompson]

I did know him, yes. I haven't seen him for a long time. Three or four years, anyway.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Mind if we ask a few questions about him? Won't take long.

[Ruth Thompson]

All right. Come in, please.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thank you. We're sorry to disturb you, ma'. Am. It's pretty important, or we wouldn't hold you up.

[Ruth Thompson]

It's all right. Down the hall here.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right.

[Ruth Thompson]

We can talk in the kitchen, if you don't mind. It's my girlfriend's birthday today. Thought it'd be nice to have a little party for her.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Oh, I see.

[Ruth Thompson]

Chair there, if you like. Oh, here, let me wipe it off. Somebody spilled a drink on it. Probably Danny. Always spilling drinks.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Suppose you know about andy Powell and Ms. Thompson. What happened this morning? What's that about Andy Powell. You heard what happened this morning?

[Ruth Thompson]

Just what I read in the morning paper. They said he broke out of San Quentin, another man with him. True. Then he did break out.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yes, ma'. Am. That's the information we have. There's an all points bulletin out on him.

[Ruth Thompson]

Well, I don't want to get involved in it. It's none of my business. Andy doesn't mean anything to me.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, at the time he was sent up, you were engaged to Powell. Is that right?

[Ruth Thompson]

Yes, but that was before he got into trouble, before he went to San Quentin. I saw him after the trial. I told him how I felt about it. I told him it wasn't any use.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Mean you called it off?

[Ruth Thompson]

That it wasn't much else to do. It was robbery. Five years to life. It wasn't the first time either. Andy knew it'd be a long time, so die. Really, I had to tell him. I had to call it off.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We understand you were on Powell's correspondence list while he was up at Quentin. You wrote to him, did you?

[Ruth Thompson]

Yes, the first couple of months. We haven't written lately, though. There wasn't any point to it. No point at all.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, when was the last time you heard from Powell, Ms. Thompson? The last time you wrote to him?

[Ruth Thompson]

Oh, eight or ten months. At least that. As I say, there wasn't much sensing going on. And he knew he was in there for a long time. He couldn't expect me to wait all that time. Matter of fact, he said he didn't expect it. He told me that.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You been up to Visit Powell recently, Ms. Thompson?

[Ruth Thompson]

No. No, I haven't.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, then you haven't seen him since he went up to Quentin. You'll swear to that?

[Ruth Thompson]

Why do I have to swear to it? I already told you, Andy. Doesn't mean anything to me. Didn't make sense. It's all over. I'm not even a relative. Why do I have to swear to anything?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You haven't seen Powell since you went up to Quentin.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That right, Ms. Thompson?

[Captain Didion]

Is that right?

[Ruth Thompson]

What if I saw him or if I didn't see him? What difference does it make? It's none of my business.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Oh, did you say, Ms. Thompson?

[Ruth Thompson]

What difference does it make? I don't have anything to do with him. He doesn't mean anything to me. I told you.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Did you see him this morning? When?

[Ruth Thompson]

Late this morning. About 10:30.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Was he alone?

[Ruth Thompson]

No. Another man was with him.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Who was the other man? You recognized him.

[Ruth Thompson]

Bert Selby. That's the way he introduced him. He didn't try to hide it. Some fellow he broke out of jail with.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What they want? Why were they here?

[Ruth Thompson]

Clothes. Money. Looked like the devil. Both of them. Terrible.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What'd you give him?

[Ruth Thompson]

They asked for. I'm not that silly. They didn't trust me anymore than they trust you. And he had a knife. I tried to tell him I didn't have any money. Didn't believe me. Came at me with that knife. I gave him the money.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How much?

[Ruth Thompson]

About 17, $18. Some loose change. They emptied my purse. They took it all.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Anything else?

[Ruth Thompson]

Clothes. A couple of suits of my father's. He died last year. They took his gun, too. Never thought Andy'd be that way. It was terrible.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

What kind of a gun was it, miss?

[Ruth Thompson]

Thompson Colt revolver.38, I think. They took that and the clothes and the money. It was about 10:30 this morning.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How come you didn't report that? You say you knew about the escape. You knew they were wanted, didn't you?

[Ruth Thompson]

Why should I? They warned me about it. They threatened me. Said they'd come back and get me if I told the police. Look, I don't want to get mixed up in this. I'm engaged to a nice fella now. We want to get married. I don't want to get mixed up in this. Andy Powell's nothing to me.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Did you watch the two men when they left the house here? You noticed if they drove off in the car?

[Ruth Thompson]

No, I didn't. I just shut the door and prayed I was rid of them. Took my money, food, my dad's clothes. Don't make it any tougher, huh? Please.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's not a question of that, ma'. Am. We have to find him. We're need all the cooperation we can get.

[Ruth Thompson]

I told you everything I could. Honestly. Said they'd come back and kill me if I even talk to you. I can't do any more. I sure hope you don't find him.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

How's that?

[Ruth Thompson]

When Andy went out the door, it's the last thing he said. He said if the cops ever found him, there was going to be a fight. Terrible look on his face.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Ruth Thompson]

He said you'd never take him alive.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The APB had come in a few minutes before 8 o' clock that morning was from the warden's office, San Quentin. The two suspects had been assigned to an early morning work detail at the penitentiary and they were first reported missing at the 7am Count number one. Suspect was Andrew A. Powell, WMA, 29 years, 5 foot 9, 175 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes, tan complexion. Suspect number two, Bertram O. Selby, WMA, 31 years, 5 foot 11, 160 pounds, blonde hair, gray eyes, tan complexion. Both of them had long criminal records. Both of them had been serving time for armed robbery. They'd used guns before. We figured if they had to, they'd use them again. Before we left Powell's ex girlfriend, Ruth Thompson, we called the office and arranged for a 24 hour stakeout on her home in case the escaped prisoners returned. We also made arrangements for a stakeout at the downtown restaurant where she was employed as cashier. We passed along the information which the Thompson girl had given us and a broadcast and an APB was gotten out on the suspects. 4:05pm Ed and I continued making the rounds of all unknown friends and associates of the escaped prisoners. We failed to come up with any more leads. 5:50pm we went back to the City Hall.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Cloudin up again, huh? Over there in the east.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. The paper says rain tonight and tomorrow. We can sure use it.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Oh, I can't.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What's the matter?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Haven't had a chance to get the shoemakers yet? Here, look at that hole in my shoe. Been meaning to get them half sold. I keep forgetting.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. Don't tell me that's the only pair of shoes you got.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

No, I got another pair at home. They're not comfortable, though. Not broken in. Lots of trouble with this job.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Captain Didion]

Shoes.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You get a new pair, start wearing them around. It happens every time. No sooner you get the tops broken in, the soles wear out. It's a vicious circle.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Mr. Dollar]

Hi.

[Captain Didion]

What's your word?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No. Hi, Jess. Anything in the book for us? You don't?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

I don't know.

[Captain Didion]

I don't think so. I'll check it. How'd you two make out? Any luck?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, not too bad, Jess. We know Powell and Selby were in town this morning. Good chance they're still here. Any kickback on that? Last all points we got out?

[Captain Didion]

Nothing so far. Gaffney and Ricketts are running down a couple of possibles right now. One of them might pan out.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Nothing in the book, Joe. We're clear.

[Captain Didion]

Just saying yet on this Powell and Selby thing. Got a couple of possibles we're checking on. Both calls came in the last hour. One was a hold up, Olympic near Vermont. Pawn shop there. Two men pulled it off. Slug the owner took clothes, money, 12 gauge shotgun.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How about descriptions on the men?

[Captain Didion]

Well, they seem to be fairly close. When I got over the phone, Gaffney and Ricketts are out talking to the victim. They took mugs of Powell and Selby along. Waiting for their call back.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Now, said you had two calls. What was the other one?

[Captain Didion]

Two. Eleven and slugging out on Hollywood Boulevard just above Western. Couple of thieves knocked over a dry goods store. Some take clothes and money. Descriptions are pretty close there, too. Hollywood Division's covering. Waiting for their call back. Does anyone want to smoke?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, thanks.

[Captain Didion]

Thanks. Thompson girl is the only one who had anything, huh? None of the others could help you out.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yeah, that's about the size of it. Apparently Powell doesn't have too many connections in town. Selby has even less. No more than a dozen names on that list were there, Joe.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Friends, relatives or an even dozen. Couple of bars Powell was known to hang out when he was in town. Check them out too. Nothing.

[Captain Didion]

Sure. Made a beeline here after they broke Quentin. It's a good 500 mile stretch. They don't have the connections here to help them. Then what's the big attraction?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Yeah, they could have some help lined up we don't know about. Somebody to hide them out, keep them in groceries for a while.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's possible they're making a run for one of the border towns. Tijuana, Mexicali. Maybe Powell figured on more help from the Thompson girl. Clothes and money. Enough to get him and Selby over into Mexico, huh?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

She said all I got was $17. Had to cut corners to make it on that robbery.

[Captain Didion]

Gonzalez. Oh, yeah, Jack. Are you sure? Okay, fine. Thanks. Bye. What do you got? Jack Ricketts. He and Gaffney just finished talking to the owner of the pawn shop that was held up, the one on Olympic. They gave him a handful of mug shots to check. He tabbed two of them. Paul and Selby.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

6:30pm A supplementary broadcast and an APB was gotten out on the two suspects. And the Record Bureau's photocopy room turned out 2,000 copies of Powell's and Selby's mug shot for distribution. At 9pm a theater on Western Avenue was robbed of $192. Powell and Selby were again identified as the hold up men. The robbery victim, the manager of the theater, said that both men were armed. One with a.38 revolver, the other with a sawed off shotgun. Neither the manager nor the two witnesses were able to tell us how the thieves got away from the scene of the crime, if they were on foot or if they had a car. 11:20pm A hotshot call came through on a hold up at a liquor store in Delicatessen down on South Central Avenue. For the third time that night, Powell and Selby were identified from their mug shots as the hold up men. They'd used the same weapons. The revolver that they'd taken from the Thompson girls home and the shotgun that they picked up in the robbery of the Olympic Boulevard pawn shop. Again, the victims were unable to tell us how the suspects got away, whether on foot or by car. Midnight, 1am There were still no replies to supplementary broadcasts and bulletins which had been gotten out. 1:25am Another hotshot call came through, this time on a holdup and a slugging at the 2050 Room, a small nightclub on West Ninth Street. Ed and I handled the call. For the fourth time, the bandits were identified as Powell and Selby. And for the fourth time, they'd made good their escape. We interviewed the manager of the 2050 Roma, Herman Saunders.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Quite a few people in here at the time of The hold up, Mr. Saunders.

[Captain Didion]

Yeah, good for a Thursday night. 30 or 40 anyway. We sure left in a hurry. This is the second time this year we've been knocked over. Insurance company isn't gonna like it too much.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how much money did they take altogether, do you know?

[Captain Didion]

A little less than 600 from the cash register. Mostly currency, some rolls of dimes and quarters. Got another 100 and a half from my wallet. That's about it. They didn't take anything from the customers.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Are you sure about that identification, are you? There's no chance of a mistake there.

[Captain Didion]

I'm positive. I'd know Andy Paul anywhere. I should know him. Like I told you, he worked for me a year and a half.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

I was here at 2050.

[Captain Didion]

Yeah, he worked behind the bar. Good man, too. I don't get it at all.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You mean why I went bad?

[Captain Didion]

Well, yeah, that too. What I mean is, if you're going to hold up a place, you don't pick a joint where everybody knows you. I spotted Annie as soon as I saw him at the bar. So did a couple of the waiters.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He wasn't wearing any kind of a mask. He didn't make any attempt to disguise himself?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

No.

[Captain Didion]

Stood there big as life. Him and this other fella didn't waste any time either. They pulled the guns, line up everybody in the place and stood them against that wall over there. Real Wild west style. Took over the whole place. Acted real wild. Andy and this other fella must be crazy.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Nobody was hurt. Didn't slug anyone.

[Captain Didion]

I slapped a few of the customers around. I thought for a while they're really gonna get rough. They had us lined up against the wall. Andy was acting tough. Had this knife with him, good 4 inch blade. Went right down the line. Jabbing people where they're threatening him. Must be out of his mind.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now, you say he didn't take any money from the customers?

[Captain Didion]

Yeah, that's right. They worked it pretty fast. Emptied the cash register, then my wallet. Then they beat it. Never so glad to see anybody go in my life.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, how'd they get away? Do you have any idea on that?

[Captain Didion]

Old guy who sells papers down the corner. He says he thinks he saw a car pull away right after the stick up. Said it was a blue sedan. Don't know how much stock you can put on it. The old man's eyes aren't what they used to be.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Do you know Paul pretty well when he was working here, Mr. Saunders? I mean, do you know any of his friends? People he used to run with?

[Captain Didion]

No, I didn't know him that well. He worked for me, that's all. I still have his old address, the place he was living when he worked for me. I can get it if you want.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, if you would, please.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Sure.

[Captain Didion]

No trouble. I just don't get it. Don't get it at all. Of all the joints and Donnie could have held up, he had to pick mine. The one place he'd be recognized. You'd think he'd have better sense, wouldn't you?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You'd think so. Yeah.

[Captain Didion]

How do I ever hire a guy as dumb as that PA holding up the place he worked for? Biggest mistake he ever made.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, he made a bigger one yesterday.

[Captain Didion]

Yeah? What was that?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

When he broke prison. 2:05am Further investigation at the scene of the latest holdup failed to turn up any new leads. While Ed and I checked on Powell's former address, which we'd gotten from the owner of the 2050 room, Gonzales, Ricketts and Gaffney continued checking the immediate neighborhood. In addition, a special detail from Metro Division was sent in to cover the entire area. The suspect's former address turned out to be a rooming house up on West Temple Street. The landlady remembered Andy Powell, but she had no forwarding address on him and she could tell us nothing about his former friends and associates. We checked back with Gonzales, Ricketts and Gaffney and they told us that besides the old newspaper vendor, the counterman at the coffee shop near the 2050 room had also spotted a blue sedan leaving the vicinity of the nightclub shortly after the holdup. He was able to give him the make, the model and a partial license number. A supplementary all points had been gotten out on it immediately and the information relayed to DMV and auto theft detail. 3:10am Ed and I completed our assignment in the investigation and went back to the office to check for instructions from Captain Didion.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Can't see how we'd be much use out on the street the way things stand now, can you?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

No, I don't.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Everything's covered. I can think of supplementary oil points is out detail from Metro's working in the neighborhood.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's funny, isn't it?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

What's that?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Unless Andy Powell going back to that place he used to work and holding it up, that doesn't make any Sense at all, does it?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

That's for sure. Must have known somebody was going to recognize him. Couldn't have been a coincidence.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Well, there's only one way I can figure it. They don't care, either one of them. They got their money, now a car. They both got guns. They're out to go as far as they can.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Oh, hi, Jess.

[Captain Didion]

Hi.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

You just get back in?

[Captain Didion]

Yeah. Hi, Joe.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Right. You as tired as you sound?

[Captain Didion]

Worse. Fair piece of news, though.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, what's that?

[Captain Didion]

Powell and Selby. They just found their hideout.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

After three hours of canvassing the general downtown area, particularly in the vicinity of the last hold up, a team of men working with a special detail from Metropolitan Division interviewed a desk clerk in a small hotel on South Broadway who recognized the suspect's mug shots. The two of them had registered early the morning before under the names J.E. dennis and Harold Thompson, both from Fresno, California. The hotel room was searched and two San Quentin inmate uniforms were found stuffed under the mattress of the bed. After the room was processed for fingerprints, there was no doubt that the recent occupants were Powell and Selby. The clerk had no idea when they were supposed to return. The hotel was staked out immediately and the citywide search for the escaped prisoners went on the following day. Thursday, October 7, 11:30am still no sign of the suspects. No further reports or leads as to their whereabouts. The search went on. Ed and I signed back in at the office. Ten minutes later, a long distance phone call came in for us.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

When was that, Mort? Was that. Yeah. Close enough.

[Captain Didion]

Right.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

We'll let you know. Yeah. Bye.

[Captain Didion]

Mark.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Gear down, San Diego.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah, what do you want?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

One of their traffic officers was checking a car about 8 o'clock this morning. 586 parking. Blue sedan. Fits close to the description of the escape car.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

It's a pretty common model, isn't it? Do you see anything else?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Traffic man checked the inside of the car glove compartment. Found half dozen rolls of dimes and quarters. Same name stamped on all of them.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

20, 50 room.

[Narrator]

You are listening to Dragnet Authentic stories of your police force in action.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

October 7th, Thursday, 1:00pm after we got the report from Lieutenant Mort Gear that the escape car along with a few dollars of the stolen money had been located in San Diego. That morning, Ed and I had a meeting with Captain Didion. It was beginning to look like our first hunch was right. Powell and Selby's 24 Hour Campaign of hold ups in the Los Angeles area had netted them a fresh change of clothes and more than enough money to live on. For a while, with the locating of the escape car in San Diego, it looked like the suspects were apparently taking the next logical step. A fast move over the international border into Mexico. A distance of less than 20 miles from San Diego. Probably they figured once over the line, they had a good chance of losing themselves. 1:40pm On Captain Didion's orders, Jess, Gonzalez, Ed and I got in the car and headed south for San Diego with a supply of mug shots of the escaped prisoners. We got there a few minutes after 4pm we went directly to the San Diego PD where we contacted Sergeant Tony McGuire, Robbery Detail.

[Captain Didion]

Tough week, huh? Hear they've been driving you crazy up there?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Just about, Tony. Four robberies in 24 hours. Giving us a run.

[Captain Didion]

How about Mort Gear, you around? Yeah, he just went down the hall. Jess ought to be back in a minute. Why don't you fellas sit down?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Thanks very much. What's the latest, Tony? Anything since you picked up that blue sedan?

[Captain Didion]

No, not much. Got the car in the impound, had it dusted for Prince. We made them all right. Both sets. Powell and Selby.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

No sign of them around town? No.

[Captain Didion]

Got it pretty well covered, too. Not a trace.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We're in a good spot to make it over into Mexico.

[Captain Didion]

Hate to disappoint you.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you mean?

[Captain Didion]

We think they already made it.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

At 6 o' clock that night, Gonzalez, Ed and I, together with Lieutenant Gere, Tony Maguire and Sergeants Gayton and Schultz drove south from San Diego to the International line. We left mug shots of Powell and Selby with the immigration officers at the entry gate. Then we drove into the town of Tijuana, contacted the local commandant of police and he promised us full cooperation. He assigned a special detail of his men to work with us in covering the town. At 8pm the block by block canvas of the city began. Every back alley, every bar, every restaurant, every hotel, they were all checked. The tourist attractions, the souvenir stands, the nightclubs, the highlight pavilion. We went straight through on it. Eight o' clock that night until five o' clock the next morning. All it got us was sore feet and a mediocre lead from a native taxi driver. After being shown the mug shots, he told one of the Mexican officers in the detail that about noon that day he picked up two Americans resembling Powell and Selby and driven them to the town of Tecari, another Mexican tourist spot about 25 miles to the east. 10:30am we drove over and checked with the police at Takati and they told us that two Americans had arrived in the town. That morning he invited Jess Gonzalez to go along with the three of his men to the hotel where the men were supposed to be staying. Ed and I waited in the office.

[Captain Didion]

Hi.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Hi, Jess.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What do you got?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Not much.

[Captain Didion]

Went over to the hotel. The two men weren't there. Desk clerk says they told him they were driving out to a little village about a mile from here. Police coming down asked me to come back here and wait. Said he and his men would drive out to the village and check the men out.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

That seems a little funny, doesn't it?

[Captain Didion]

Well, he didn't invite me to come along. It's not a good idea to push him. I mean, after all, it's his jurisdiction.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

We're supposed to wait here till I get back.

[Captain Didion]

Yeah, I'm out to him now. See? Policia. Uh huh. Yeah, See, See? About half an hour. Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right.

[Captain Didion]

Gracias. Goodbye. Si. The commandant, he and his men found the two Americans.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

No go.

[Captain Didion]

They're not Paul and Selby.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Half an hour later, the police commandant of Takati returned to the station along with his men and the two American tourists in question. One look at them and we knew we'd made the trip from Tijuana for nothing. Except for their build and the color of their hair, the two Americans bore little or no resemblance to Powell and Selby. 2:30pm we headed back for Tijuana and we checked in with Mort Gear and the rest of the men. While we'd been gone, they'd chased down half a dozen leads, but none of them had panned out. The rest of the afternoon, we covered the racetrack at Agua Caliente and distributed mug shots of the suspects to all track police officers. The mutual windows were covered and also the foreign book. No luck. The six of us took time out for a bite of supper and we talked it over logically. The next place in line to cover was either the fishing town of Ensenada on the coast or the city of Mexicali from further inland. We decided to try Ensenada first. 7:30 that night, we checked in at the Ensenada police station, where we met with a local sub commandant, Pedro Martinez. Like the other commandants in Tijuana and Tecate, he offered full cooperation and gave us a special detail of men to aid in the search. We gave him a supply of mug shots of the two convicts to distribute among his men.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Here you are, sir. These are pictures of one of them, Andrew Powell. This one here is the other man, Bert Selby.

[Mr. Dollar]

You're all right.

[Captain Didion]

Thank you.

[Adam Graham]

Juan.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Juan.

[Captain Didion]

See? See these pictures, Juan Criminals. They are for distribution to the men. One each? Si, si. Esto sonos hombres? Si, si. Porque momento? No momento. Si. Excuse me, officers. Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Sorry.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

Go ahead, Joe.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

What is it? What's got me? I don't know.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

See the look on his face when the chief showed him the mug shots?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

He's got something on his mind. Just wait a minute,

[Captain Didion]

Officers. I. I hope you will excuse me. Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Anything wrong?

[Captain Didion]

My assistant, Teniente San Felipo, he says he knows the pictures of these men.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Huh?

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

How's that?

[Captain Didion]

He says he saw these men this morning here in Ensenada.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Yeah. He's sure about that, is he?

[Captain Didion]

Yes, sir. He says he's sure. He says the two men were here last night. Right here in the station.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You mean your men booked him in? They committed some kind of crime?

[Captain Didion]

Oh, no, sir. They came in to report a crime.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

8:20pm on further questioning, the assistant to the Ensenada commandant of police told us that the night before, two men answering Powell and Selby's description had come in to file a complaint at the Central police Station. They charged that they'd had their pockets picked at a local bar while they were under the influence of alcohol. The two complainants who matched Powell's and Selby's descriptions perfectly signed themselves J.E. dennis and Harold Thompson, both from Fresno, California. The same names and addresses that had been used by the occupants of the south side Los Angeles hotel room where the discarded prison uniforms had been been found a day and a half before. After a brief talk with a police commandant, he dispatched a special detail to go out and pick up the two men, registered as Dennis and Thompson, at a motel near the south end of the city. At the commandant's request, we remained at the office. 9:00pm 9:30. The detail assigned to the job returned, but with only one of the suspects with him, Andrew Powell. While resisting arrest, the other suspect, identified as Selby, received a cut and was being taken to a local clinic for treatment. The commandant briefed us on what had happened.

[Captain Didion]

Their rooms were searched, Officer Friday. Some money was found. Also two guns. A revolver, a shotgun. Here they are.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

All right. Thanks very much, sir. Paul, how about it? You ready to cop out?

[Captain Didion]

What are you talking about, cop out? What'd you guys come all the way down here for anyway? You can't touch us.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

What makes you think we can't?

[Captain Didion]

You can't, that's all you know. Better. You can't arrest us down here. No jurisdiction. We didn't arrest you, Powell. The Mexican okay, fine. Now, how do you expect to get us out of Mexico? Guess again, copper. You know you can't do it. You haven't got the right to.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Maybe you want to tell us where

[Captain Didion]

you have the loot.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

The money you took in those holdups.

[Captain Didion]

Why should I? Look, why don't you admit it? We got you beat. We got over the line. You can't touch us down here.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Don't bet on that. Mr. Commandant.

[Captain Didion]

Yes, sir.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

You want to tell him how it stands?

[Captain Didion]

I will see that the general in charge of the Northern District is notified in the morning of your case. He will see that you and your partner are deported. What are you trying to fool? You can't do that. You know what? It's illegal.

[Sergeant Ed Jacobs]

So is robbery, pal. Come off it.

[Captain Didion]

It doesn't make any difference. You can't touch us in Mexico. It's against the law. You can't touch us. A popular misconception, Mr. Powell. I'm afraid you have made a mistake. If you like, you can pass the word.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

How long would it be for us to receive the prisoners at the line, sir?

[Captain Didion]

I don't know. A long time. I think maybe as long as 1 o' clock tomorrow. You know you can't do this. You'll never get away with it. I know a lawyer in Tijuana. I'll get him to straighten it out. You understand? Sergeant, we can't hand this man over to you now. But if you will be at the international border at one o' clock tomorrow, I'm sure they'll be crossing over. You can't do this. It's illegal. You know you can't.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

We're gonna try wasting your time.

[Captain Didion]

Why don't you admit it? You can't arrest us. We got over the line. We got your beat. You can't arrest us and you know it. You know that, don't you?

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

There's only one thing I know for sure, pal.

[Captain Didion]

Yeah.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

San Quentin. You got out and you're going back. The story you have just heard was true.

[Narrator]

The names were changed to protect the innocent. On December 9, trial was held in Superior Court Department 87, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. Andrew Powell and Bertram Selby were deported from Mexico as undesirable aliens and turned over to US authorities at the international border. They were immediately arrested by police officers on the American side and returned to Los Angeles for trial. They pled guilty to four counts of first degree robbery and received sentences as prescribed by law. First degree robbery is punishable by a prison term of from five years to life. After being returned to San Quentin, Powell and Selby were filed on tried and convicted of escape. Both of them are now serving life terms in Folsom State Penitentiary, Repressa, California.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

For their cooperation in preparing tonight's broadcast, Dragnet wishes to thank Chief of Police Adam E. Jansen and the San Diego Police Department.

[Narrator]

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, Los Angeles Police Department Technical Advisors, Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, Sergeant Vance Brasher. Heard tonight were Barney Phillips, Whit Connor, Herb Ellis, script by Jim Moser, music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.

[Sergeant Joe Friday]

Now it's counterspy on NBC.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Adam Graham]

Welcome back. Well, an episode that illustrated the dangers of believing a cultural myth when it really matters. In this case, a lot of people had the idea that if you'd committed a crime and you escaped across the Mecca Mexican border, you were home free. And this reveals the truth. No, not really. Not at all, really. Now, it is true, of course, that Sergeant Friday couldn't arrest them on Mexican soil, but the truth is that Mexico has had a long standing extradition treaty with the United States. But they didn't even bother with that as you were dealing with a clear case of escaped convicts entering the country under an assumed name, just going ahead and expelling them as undesirable aliens, that will do the trick. Now, of course, like with many popular myths, there is a kernel of truth that the myth is based on. As someone in law enforcement, you don't want your suspect escaping to Mexico because you don't have jurisdiction there to follow a legal process. You're going to end up losing time and giving your fugitive a head start into the country while you arrange things through proper channels. And in fact, many fugitives have escaped from Mexico and remained hidden for years because there are a lot of places to hide, particularly if you know people who will help you or you know the country or you understand the process and you keep moving. If, on the other hand, you stay relatively close to the border and you so much assume that you are home free in Mexico that you feel free to go into the police station to file a complaint about a pickpocket, then it will be a lot easier for you to be caught. Now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. I want to go ahead and thank Christine, patreon, supporter since March 2018, currently supporting the podcast at the Psalmist level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Christine. And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And if you're enjoy the podcast on YouTube, be sure to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and mark the notification bell. We will be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet, but join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Wear.

[Mr. Dollar]

Now, as you were saying, Mr. Hurley? Yes, Mr. Dollar. I certainly hope Mr. Moody shows up again. You're a fine man. Fine man. Used to come down here at the store for a quiet game of checkers now and then. And the police have no idea where he might have gone or why. Yeah, well, I guess I'm about the only police we have here in Kirkwood. Oh, of course. I notified the state police, and I presume they're still looking for him. Just what happened? Mr. Hurley just took the bus into Philadelphia one day. Well, that's the last we heard of him. Do you know anything about the beneficiary of his insurance? Let's see. According to my list, it's your nephew, Mr. Dollar. Yeah. Charles Moody. Lives out in California. Yeah, Mr. Moody always felt that he was the most deserving of his relatives. Left him everything, huh? Well, the insurance and his money. Yes, I know because, well, I'm the only lawyer here in Kirkwood, and I made out a will for him. You say just the money to his nephew? Except for his wine cellar, all his property will go to the town wine cellar. Yes. If Mr. Moody doesn't come back, or if he's proved to be dead, the wine cellar will go over to a man over in Philadelphia. Had themselves a sort of a gourmet club, I guess you'd call it. I see. But now, tell me. You know, I kind of wish he'd have willed me that wine cellar. Oh, you should see the collection he has there from all over the world. Yes, German wines and French and I yes, I'm sure now, Mr. Hurley.

[Adam Graham]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to Box13greatdetives.net follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram instagram.com Great detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Sergeant Joe Friday]

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[Sergeant Joe Friday]

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