Police report on an arrest
Police officers from the Smallville police department yesterday at around 6.35 pm, arrested and detained three suspects linked to convenience store robbery earlier on in the day. At about 4.43 pm, a dispatch officer at the police department had received a distress call from a clerk at Jerry’s Quick Stop. This call prompted the police officers to rush to the scene of the crime. They were, however late, and the suspects had already fled the crime scene. However, through a positive ID made on the suspects’ vehicle license plate by the store clerk, later identified as Jerome Watts, the officers were able to trace the suspects to their hideout.
In an ambush on the gang’s hideout that saw one of the suspects shot, the criminals attempted to exchange gunfire with the police officers but were later on subdued and handcuffed. An ambulance was summoned that took the wounded suspect, Wayne Newton, 43 to the Smallville Valley Hospital. Upon a thorough search of the premises, the officers were able to recover $73,000 in cash, 12 pounds of marijuana, two pounds of heroin, and 40 grams of fentanyl. Two of the suspects, identified as Vernon Simpson, 39, and Thurber, 36, were booked on several charges and are being retained at the Smallville County Jail awaiting arraignment tomorrow morning. The third suspect, Newton, will be arraigned at the hospital where he is recovering from his injuries under heavy police watch.
Among armed robbery and assault on a police officer, the suspects picked up other charges including suspicion of attempted homicide, drug possession with intent to distribute, illegal possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, resisting arrest, and aggravated assault on a police officer. In a statement to the press, Smallville Police Chief Broderick Crawford Stated that “With these arrests, we have taken off the streets, three dangerous criminals.” The chief was however disappointed that one of the suspects, Mr. Simpson, is a law enforcement officer in Buckeye although he was not on duty when he committed the crime.
Mr. Simpson’s attorney, Justin Sipe, responded to the allegations against his client by stating that, “The police conducted an illegal search of the premises and they should have obtained a search warrant.” He further maintained that Mr. Simpson is an honest law enforcement officer that was unlawfully arrested and assaulted by the arresting officers even though he had not resisted arrest. He is hopeful that his client will be found innocent in court.