One afternoon in October, 1963, at about 5:00 PM, I was dispatched to the Amity Shopping Center in regard to a serious motor vehicle accent involving person injuries. Upon arrival, a man driving a Fiat with his 13 year old son with him had just left the Amity Bowling Lanes. As they crossed the Amity Shopping Center, another vehicle struck their vehicle broadside on the right passenger side causing extensive damage to both vehicles. The man was lying on the ground with numerous facial injuries next to his drivers door that was open. His 13 year old son was sitting in the drivers seat. I called for an ambulance. While waiting for the ambulance, the Fiat driver stated that the impact knocked him out of his car and also knocked his 13 year old son from the right front passenger seat and into the drivers seat. The driver of the second car was not injured. However, that driver stated that the 13 year old boy was driving. Just then, my Sergeant arrived at the accident scene. After hearing conflicting stories, my Sergeant ordered me to arrest the driver of the Fiat for permitting a minor to operate a motor vehicle and arrest the boy for operating a motor vehicle without a license. The Fiat driver was a well-known Westville Dentist whom I never met before. His description of the accident made sense to me so I asked my Sergeant to give me a couple of hours to possibly find a witness to this accident. He said, you have until the end of your shift,11:00 PM Bob and then go to the Hospital and issue summons to the driver and the Boy. Thank you Serge, I said. I went door to door at the Amity Shopping Center looking for a witness to this accident. No luck. Finally, I noticed two men on the sidewalk who worked at the Finast Super Market smoking a cigarette. Hey guys, did you by chance see this accident ? Yeah, they said. Earlier, they were both out on the sidewalk taking a smoke break and they stated that this car, going at a high rate of speed, crashed into the right side of the Fiat and knocked the driver right out of the car and knocked a young boy over to the drivers seat. Are you gentleman willing to give me a written statement and are you also willing to go to court if necessary and testify as to what you saw? Yes, they both answered, yeah man, the other cat (dude) was wrong, was their answer. Thank you God. I called my Sergeant to meet me at the Amity Center. I introduced him to the two witnesses and got written statements and arrested the other driver for reckless driving. Had I arrested the Doctor, a great injustice would have occurred to him and his son. His Insurance Company would have denied his claim, thinking he broke the law by allowing a minor to operate his vehicle. They both would have had a police record that they did not deserve. I knew in my heart that the Doctor was telling the truth. I just needed to buy some time. I just needed to find a witness. You cant learn this stuff in Police Academy. You must follow your instincts and always put your heart into this job. A Policemans decision can affect a persons life, forever. Good or bad.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 03:27:21 +0000