It was a Saturday and a friend I had recently met had dates with two young ladies we knew. In fact it was these ladies that had introduced us to each other. I was the one with the car so I went to his house and picked him up, and we phoned the girls to let them know we were on the way. Well that was when we were stood up, lol, Seems one of the girls parents had grounded her and the other was not going alone. He and I decided we would go cruise El Centro to kill the evening. At 19 I was the oldest, I believe he was 17. At some point we decided we wanted to drink a couple of beers. We drove around town and stopped at the bowling alley to see who was there. I found a friend I knew was over 21, and made him a deal I would pay for a case of Coors and split it with him if he would make the purchase. He agreed and we headed to the liquor store. I promised him if anything happened I would never tell who had bought it for us, and to this day only he, the other guy that was with me and myself know who he was. So my friend and I headed out of town to drink some beer. This was my first time to go out drinking, and I had only had a few sips of beer at any given time before. We had a 6-pack each and parked out in the country to drink them.
We found out we had some things in common, and decided we would go camping the next week end we got the chance. After the beer ran out we started cruising the country roads and ditch banks, not wanting to go home yet. We were feeling pretty good on our buzz, and as we were going down an irrigation road we saw 2 camping lanterns and a can of fuel. We decided we could use this on our camping trip so we stopped and picked it up, actually we knew we were stealing it but didn’t care at the time. Later we ran across the irrigator sitting in his car and I still do not know why we stopped but we did and started talking to him. He was a Mexican guy and I or my friend did not speak much Spanish at the time. Well my friend decided he liked the guys watch, and we thought it would be a good idea to trade him the lanterns and fuel for his watch. He did not know English, and we found out later that through our sign language thought we were going to pour the fuel on his car and burn him if we did not get the watch. This was never our intent, but he gave us the watch and the lanterns. We were Laughing about that when we ran across some equipment parked in the field. We got out and found some tools and other things we took and then we vandalized the tractors and stuff. To make it short, we vandalized 2 fields that night and harassed another irrigator. I dropped my friend at his house and headed home.
I made it almost to the Alamo river bridge going into Holtville, when my world lit up big time. Not sure how many officers were all around but there were lots of red lights. I pulled over, and they told me to get out of the car with my hands up. I quickly complied, and was surrounded by all types of law enforcement with weapons drawn.
They searched my car finding all the stolen things and put me in cuffs. They then drove back to my friends place where his house was surrounded and they had him in custody as well. We arrived at the Imperial County jail about 0400 Sunday Morning. I reminded him not to tell who bought us the beer and we both told them it was some wino off the street. My friend was taken to Juvenile detention, and I was placed into the felony cell. I did manage to call my Dad and let him know I was in jail. He had always told me “You get yourself in jail, and you can get yourself out!!” so I did not expect any help and I was right.
I found a bunk and laid down but could not sleep. I stayed in my bunk (near the door) and kept my mouth shut. Monday morning the Sherriff called me to his office and started talking to me. He ask me what happened and I told him everything just as it happened. He asked if I had ever been in trouble before and I replied never, not even a traffic ticket. I told him I was in the Navy and waiting to report for active duty, and he decided to try to help me as much as he could. Monday after noon I was taken to the courthouse to be arraigned on charges. I had spoken to a defense attorney and told to plead not guilty so that is what I did.
On the way to the court, I was shackled to a very large black gentleman. He said it I start runnin you better keep up!!!! I replied if you start runnin you are going to have to drag me to get me to come with you!!!! He didn’t run and didn’t get on my case back in the cell either. (Thank You Lord!!) I was charged with “Armed Robbery-Strongarm” I was really worried now.
I was in the sheriff’s office 3 times on Monday, and we were starting to become friends, LOL, He knew everything, and had a pile of evidence in his office. They had found my Dad’s hunting knife in my glove compartment and he asked if I had used it during my “Crime spree” I told him No we did not intend to hurt any one! We were just having a little fun. During our interviews he decided I was not a criminal but a kid caught up in showing how bad I could be to impress another kid. He said he would get it arranged with the DA so I would be charged as a juvenile instead of an adult so it could be sealed into my juvenile record. He asked about who my family was and many visits were as much just to talk than to question me.
On Tuesday he again called me to his office to talk. One visit he said “I just thought you might like to get out of the cell for a while.”. I remember the jailer telling me If I kept getting called to the office he was going to wear out a pair of shoes LOL.
On Wednesday, I was called to the Sherriff’s office again, this time it was to talk to a bondsman. The bondsman would not tell me who had contacted him, but I narrowed it down to three possibilities.
1. My Dad
2. My Uncle Andrew
3. The Sherriff himself.
To this day I do not know who sent him, but he and I made a deal I had half his fee and would pay him the rest on Friday when I got paid. He did all the necessary paperwork, and drove me to the field were day Dad was working because Dad had my money. I did not go back to work that day but instead had the bondsman drop me at my house. I contacted my sister Pat, and found out Dad had told no one where I was. I called my cousins and they hadn’t known either…….
No comments:
Post a Comment