MY DOG ……. A SURPRISE FOR ME
OR
HOW I FINALLY GOT HIM!
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PAGE TWENTY ONE:
INNOCENT OR GUILTY???
PART 2
The Statue of Liberty atop The Old Bailey
The law of the wise is a fountain of life
Poise the cause in justice’s equal scales
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The victim of the alleged crime was invited to come to Interrogation Room 2 by Lieutenant Arthur Tragg, the Detective assigned to investigate the events leading to Casanova/Puppy and he being brought to the precinct. Lt. Tragg was the most experienced and most decorated Detective in the state and was said to be formidable, but fair and honest, in interrogation.
Lt. Arthur Tragg
The Detective asked the victim to describe, in his own words, what had led to the police being summoned to the house. He said that the Casanova/Puppy had enjoyed his morning walk to visit a neighbour and returned to the house for a morsel of sweetmeat, which he was used to having.
Casanova/Puppy spent the remainder of the morning in the front and back gardens before returning to the interior of the house. Once inside, he was fed lunch in the kitchen. When finished, he moved to the sitting room and positioned himself on the couch, as he was in the habit of taking an afternoon nap after luncheon.
The victim said that he remained in the kitchen to prepare something to eat for himself. Apparently he prepared a toasted Cheddar Cheese sandwich and placed it on a blue plate. He then brought it into the living room where he placed the plate on the coffee table. He next returned to the kitchen to collect something to drink and then returned to the living room only to find that the sandwich had disappeared. The plate was still present on the coffee table, but seemingly had been wiped clean. He continued by saying that he was annoyed that his lunch had disappeared and asked Casanova/Puppy if he had eaten it who made no reply.
The Empty Clean Plate
The victim said that he was annoyed and believed that Casanova/Puppy had reached over and eaten the sandwich and then cleaned the plate, leaving no trace of his actions. The victim admitted to raising his voice when asking him if he had taken the sandwich. He said that no answer was given by Casanova/Puppy and they then sat without exchanging any word until they heard the police knocking at the house.
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The Detective next asked the victim if Casanova/Puppy had ever committed any other acts of Larceny. The victim looked apprehensive while Casanova/Puppy looked bored! The Detective said that it would best to hear of any similar acts now rather than later once he had had time to check in his past in the archives.
The victim took a deep breath and said that something had happened earlier during the week, but it was minor and really not worth relating. However, the Detective insisted on knowing.
It seems that before going to bed, Casanova/Puppy is used to being given two small treats. Normally, these treats are given by the victim just before they retire for the night. That evening, the victim had placed these treats on his night table, but then briefly left the room in order to collect some drinking water. When he returned, he sat on the bed and waited for Casanova/Puppy to come and collect his treats. He noticed that Casanova/Puppy was standing in the doorway and appeared reluctant to come into the room. It was then that the victim noticed that the objects on the night table had been moved and then saw that the treats were gone!
Apparently while the victim was out of the bedroom, Casanova/Puppy had crept in, jumped up onto the bed and grabbed and ate the treats! He then evidently left the room and went off to hide.
Stolen Treats
When he was called, he eventually came and stood at the door, apparently knowing that his dastardly act was about to be discovered. When asked, what have you done? he walked backwards into the corridor and then made his way back into the kitchen and then to his couch. He did not return to the bedroom until the next morning!
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The Detective thought to himself that if Casanova/Puppy was not careful he would become a full-time Juvenile Delinquent.
No, No, I’m not ……..
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Finally, the victim was asked to write a statement describing the events as related and was given paper and pen. The Detective then left the room and returned once the victim had completed his statement. When the victim was asked if he would be willing to press charges naming Casanova/Puppy as the perpetrator, he said that he would be reluctant to do so. The Detective read the statement and took it with him as he left the room. Before doing so, he asked the victim to kindly wait for his return. After the Detective left the room, he went to his desk and put the victim’s statement in a file on his desk
A Police Statement Template
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The alleged suspect had been escorted to Interrogation Room One where he was asked to sit at the far side of the table. He complied with the request, and waited for questioning.
When the Detective entered the room, he told the alleged suspect that he had been asked to come to the precinct in order to discuss the theft that had occurred earlier in the day at the house where he was living. He was next re-read his Miranda Rights and asked again if he required Counsel. As earlier, no answer was made, and avoided making eye contact.
The Detective said that since he would not answer the question, counsel would be sought for him. He was then informed that he was required to remain in the room until he or she arrived. The alleged suspect made no sound and appeared to be disinterested in the events around him. Within a minute or two, he had moved to the floor where he promptly fell asleep.
The Detective realised that he was dealing with a very cool customer who would not be easily rattled!
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When Counsel arrived at the precinct, she was immediately taken to Interrogation Room One and left with the alleged perpetrator.
Casanova/Puppy’s Counsel
Counsel notified the Detective that she was ready to speak. Counsel informed the Detective that the alleged perpetrator would not answer any of his questions and would plead not-guilty to any charges brought by the police. The alleged perpetrator remained silent with a look of disinterest on his face during this time and even offered a yawn at one point. He continued to avoid eye contact with the Detective.
The Detective said that the police had the right to hold a suspect for up to 24 hours before being required to bring a charge or else they are required to release him. He said that he would be pursuing further investigations and therefore would be holding Casanova/Puppy overnight. He urged Counsel to speak to her client and advice him to be more co-operative at their next meeting. Casanova/Puppy continued to appear disinterested in what was transpiring, and again, offered a yawn.
The Detective asked an officer to take Casanova/Puppy to the holding cells. As he was being escorted from the room, his Counsel reminded him not to say anything and that she would return in the morning.
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Immediately after this, the Detective went to Interrogation Room Two where the victim sat waiting. He was informed that Casanova/Puppy was being held for 24 hours pending further investigation. The victim was visibly upset by this news and said that he would prefer if the police forget this whole business. The Detective said that he could not do this at this time as he needed to examine the situation further. When the victim asked if he might speak with Casanova/Puppy, he was told that this was not possible at this time.
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The Detective saw the victim to the outside who promised to come back tomorrow with the hope of visiting the alleged perpetrator. Following this the Detective made his way to Records. He wanted to check out whether Casanova/Puppy was known to the police or not, and if so, for what reason.
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It seemed that Casanova/Puppy was known to the police! In fact he had been involved in three nefarious activities.
The first was a similar crime to the one under current investigation and had occurred at the home of the present victim soon after Casanova/Puppy moved there. Apparently, an open toasted sandwich of wheat bread with Cheddar Cheese and Roma Tomato had been prepared and left on a table with Casanova/Puppy in the room. Apparently the victim left the room for a moment and when he returned, both the cheese and tomato were missing from the sandwich, leaving only the toast.
Toast & Tomato
Seemingly the police were summoned to the house by a neighbour since Casanova/Puppy was noticed to be running along the street (there was no fence around the house at this time). Adam 12 was sent to assess the situation:
The Officers of ADAM 12 (Right, Police Officer II Pete Malloy, Badge 744 &
Left, Police Officer I Jim Reed, Badge 2430) were sent to the house
Following an investigation, it was concluded that a crime had taken place and the police wished to transport the victim, the alleged suspect and the remains of the toasted material to the precinct. However the victim refused to press charges and stated that they had been called unnecessarily and, more importantly, against his advice. As a result of the wishes of the victim, the police left, but only after giving Casanova/Puppy a word of caution.
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The second crime (fully described earlier at Public Enemy Number One …….. America’s Most Wanted) was of a more serious nature and required Casanova/Puppy to be held under Quarantine for fourteen long days where he found himself placed on the infamous list of America’s Ten Most Wanted. Fortunately for him, he was found to be disease-free and the young victim admitted to creeping up behind him and yelling Boo! The authorities agreed that Casanova/Puppy responded in a correct manner in terms of protecting his companion. Luckily for the young victim, no harm was actually done. Despite this, he given a warning and informed that should another such incident be reported, he would be taken to the Animal Shelter and the case reviewed at the highest possible level.
America’s Most Wanted
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The third act occurred when he believed he and his walking partner to be under attack! An older man and his wife were out walking when they found themselves walking towards Casanova/Puppy also out for his daily walk. Unfortunately, the older man was carrying a huge stick, which Casanova/Puppy felt was being welded at him with some menace. As the man came nearer, Casanova/Puppy did not wait for any possible attack, and decided to attack first. He jumped up at the man and nipped his chin! Fortunately, the man was not seriously hurt and said that Casanova/Puppy was simply acting in self-defense and was evidently under the impression that the stick was a weapon and was going to be aimed at him. As a result, no action was taken. However, following this, Casanova/Puppy walks were of shorter duration and strictly limited to the neighbour.
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Finally, and of the most serious nature, it is believed that Casanova/Puppy has been seen associating with criminal elements well-known to the police during his morning walks!
Perhaps the most notorious of these elements is the felon known as Guido – or as he likes to be referred to, Don Guido, a known associate of The Black Hand Society and The Mafia (Cosa Nostra). Don Guido together with a number of his henchmen had been noted to stop and converse with Casanova/Puppy during his daily walks on several occasions. Casanova/Puppy have denied any pernicious dealings with Don Guido and, likewise, Don Guido’s lawyers echoed this. All either party would admit to was the passing of greetings when they met.
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However, despite denials and the lack of evidence of any criminal association with Guido, Casanova/Puppy was placed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s People of Interest List.
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As the Detective had thought, and now confirmed, he was dealing with a very cool and very slippery customer in Casanova/Puppy who would not prove easily rattled!
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I am afraid that Casanova/Puppy has all the indications of a hardened criminal, but that sweet face and soulful eyes convince me otherwise. I will contribute to his defense fund!