This happened about several years ago, when my wife’s brother, his wife and their five kids stopped by for a visit that unexpectedly lasted almost 3 months.
It was about 5 PM, I had been out, and came back to the house to find the front door wide open, and SIL and kids in the back yard hanging laundry. Fortunately, the dog had not walked out the front door to visit the neighborhood, as she was known to do.
I put her leash on, and without saying anything to anyone, I went back out, closing the front door, walking the dog to the neighborhood park.
There is a stream that runs in a ravine along the street going to the park, and then the stream goes through the park. When we finally headed back to the house, I noticed an unusual police presence along the ravine. My first guess was that there might be a child missing. I asked one officer if there was anything I could do. At first he said, no, that the police had everything was under control. He went on to tell me they were looking for a runner from a home entry and auto theft that had happened a few blocks away. He then asked where I lived. I told him I was on the next block away, in the opposite direction. He then gave me a description of the suspect, and said to call 911 if I happened to see him.
I then took the dog home, and while getting her some fresh water, I noticed SIL and the kids in the backyard talking to someone who fit the officers description! Needles to say, I went out to investigate.
She said to me, “This is Jason. He just came up between the shed and the fence, and I thought he might need some help.”
Jason then seemed a little nervous. “I was just leaving. I’m not taking anything, I’m just leaving!”
I said, “Jason, do you know the police are looking for you?”
“Yeah,’ he said. “It’s all a misunderstanding. They think I hit my girlfriend while we were arguing, but actually she hit me.”
“Well,” I replied, “If what you say is true, I’d suggest talking to them and getting it all straightened out.”
He then pleaded, “Don’t call them, please! I’ll go and you’ll never see me again!”
“If you promise to talk them, I won’t call,” I stated.
“I promise! I promise!Thank you!” he shouted, as he exited the gate. I immediately went in to the house and called 911, because I could tell he was running, not going to turn himself in.
Within 5 minutes, the street was crawling with police cruisers, SUV’s and about 3 or 4 udercover vehicles. I saw the officer I had talked to earlier. He took my statement, and by the time we were finished (about 4 or 5 minutes} he got the call that the suspect had been apprehended. He turned to me, shook my hand and said, “Thank you very much!”