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trackerface
Join Date: 5/27/2012
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11/17/2012 9:05:48 PM Recent tracking experience
I am fortunate in my career to be able to use a lot of the skills I learn in many areas we discuss on these forums. Here is one where I got to use a bit of tracking even though it didn't end with us catching the guy:
Just the other day I went on a call where a suspicious person was seen moving around houses. His description was sent out. I responded along with another.
While we were checking the area we spotted the guy taking off between some houses. I joined in the chase a little late after driving the area in the hopes that he would run out from the backyards.
When I got out of my car I went to where the suspect was last seen. The snow was almost all melted in the area. The snow melting on the roofs resulted in a lot of water dripping onto the ground between the two houses that the suspect ran between. The sky was really cloudy that afternoon and the lighting was a bit dim. My partner took a right down the alley to a parking lot and was speaking to people.
I looked at the ground further down the alley and saw that there were boot prints and a converse style shoe (the converse was much less visible and less damaging to the ground than the boot). I asked my partner if he had walked this way. He said he had. I told him that the suspect ran this way. I looked ahead and saw a fence.
I jumped the fence into the back yard. Some snow was in the yard, but there was lots of grass and dirt as well. Instead of looking for tracks I checked the likely hiding spots and routes of escape. I didn't want to be ambushed. After checking these areas I looked at the ground again. My partner had joined me in the yard by now. He walked to the fence across the way and went over to look around.
Right as he went over I noticed a tiny bit of disturbance on the dead grass in front of me. Upon closer inspection I noticed tread patterns. I looked forward but didn't see another track. It took me a bit to realize that the guy was tall and running fast. His stride was HUGE! I found the next print a ways away. I then saw where he was going. I called to my partner telling him that the suspect ran the other way.
I followed the prints through another yard and over a wall. I ended up in the driveway of another house. I followed what little was left of the suspect's transfer of moisture on the cement. I got to the sidewalk and lost his track.
I recalled that while I was driving around I saw a truck leave the area (not the only vehicle in the area). I remember that the guy was very tall and had a different description than what we were given. After tracking the suspect I was positive that the guy who left in a truck was my suspect. I let him get away without even realizing it. A witness later confirmed my description of the guy and the suspicious male as being one in the same.
It was a bitter sweet experience. I was upset and down that the guy got away, but at the same time I had a great time tracking him. I was able to learn a lot from his tracks. I felt like I could guess his size and build. I knew he was tall and thin. I could see he was fit and very agile. I also saw that he didn't hesitate much when running through the yards. Regardless of how cool it was, I still failed to catch him. Oh well, one more lesson for me to try and learn.
Hope this was entertaining,
Richard
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Trackerdoc
Join Date: 3/15/2008
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11/20/2012 5:33:39 AM
always entertaining to hear a tracking story!
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trackerface
Join Date: 5/27/2012
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12/23/2012 7:52:36 AM
So here is another experience as of late:
It was about 0620 hours (morning) and snowing moderately outside. It was quite dark out. We got a call from a neighbor near a school yard that observed a vehicle drive into the parking lot and take stuff from the property and put it in his vehicle. The person then got in and drove off with the lights off until it got back onto the street.
I started to try and head off the person where he may be going but I was coming from a good distance. Another officer pulled over a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle (a vague description at best). That officer stated that the vehicle had stuff protruding from the bed of the truck. I headed to the location of the theft.
I arrived and noticed that the snow in the parking lot had built up a few inches over night and the vehicle tracks going in and out of the lot were quite fresh. I pulled into the lot only a bit and parked my car so I wouldn't destroy the tracks all around. I walked around the lot to first get a general overview of what happened.
I remembered Kevin teaching about tire tracks and looking for the hour glass shape gives away the front tracks. I also remembered that the rear tires track on the inside. By looking at the tracks I saw that the truck pulled right up to a shed, turned away from it and backed up to the shed.
I saw footprints walking around both sides of the shed. On the one side of the shed was a pile of metal and things as well as some tables. I walked over to the back of the pile and saw where snow had been disturbed (likely where the stuff was taken).
Due to the snow falling I knew that the tracks wouldn't last long. I got my phone out and took pictures of the nicest looking tracks I could find for the tread pattern. I also took pictures of the tire tracks. I noticed that the treads on the front tires and rear were not the same. I then called up my partner who was with the stopped vehicle and let him know I would be texting him images of the suspect shoe tread pattern.
I then used boxes and papers from my vehicle to cover some of the tracks. I called for our crime lab to document the tracks located on scene. I had another unit come and sit to keep others from destroying the track evidence. I showed him what to tell the crime lab and then left to where the suspect was.
I had already sent the texts but the other officer wasn't sure about the suspect's shoes. The officer told me the suspect continued to offer a different story about where he was coming from and that he didn't go to the school we were asking him about.
I got to the vehicle and walked up to each tire. I looked at the tread and was able to confirm it with my pictures I took. I then had the suspect take off a shoe and give it to me. I looked at the tread and found that it matched. I spoke out loud to the others that the shoes matched. I handed the suspect the shoe back and asked, "Do you still want to make up another story, or do you want to tell me the truth now?"
It was enjoyable to see the man's shoulders slump as he said that he had been there. I told him that I knew he only pulled up to the shed as if he knew what he wanted and where to get it. He told me that he had already been to the lot on a previous occasion.
There is more to that story but it ended with him going to jail. What I wanted the focus here to be on was the tracking. Yes, I know there was snow. Despite the snow making it easy to see the tracks there are still things that were important. I relayed phots of tracks to others to verifiy a suspect. I covered evidence to prevent it from being destroyed. I was able to have more evidence against the suspect by knowing about his tires. In fact, the crime lab unit who came out is a footwear and tire impression identification expert. She stated that she was very pleased with my actions I took including protecting the evidence and booking the subject's shoes into evidence.
I know this went on for quite a while, but I hope it was fun. I don't want to come across as bragging. My intent is to share experiences and encourage others to get tracking. Clearly much of my experience is law enforcement related, but I would love to even read about people's animal tracking experiences.
I hope all of you are well. Happy Christmas.
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