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Chandler Police Decided It Was Time to Reel in Some Fugitives and Use Bad Guys' Greed as Bait

Aired May 22, 2002 - 10:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: For some criminals in Arizona, it's not the heat, it's the stupidity. The Chandler Police Department decided it was time to reel in some fugitives, and use the bad guys' greed as the bait.

Reporter Gina Maravilla has this report from KTVK.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just follow him back there, follow us back there.

GINA MARAVILLA, KTVK REPORTER: After registering in the lobby, this guy thought he was going into another room for a free DVD player.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come in, man, congratulations. But the police had a different prize for him and two dozen others who have outstanding arrest warrants, mostly for DUIs.

OFFICER EMMA BRIBIESCAS, CHANDLER OFFICER: A warrant officer realized there was a huge amount of outstanding DUI warrants. He sent all of the suspects letters to their last known address, informing them they had been, you know, selected to receive a prize, and gave them a time and location where they needed to show up.

EDDIE BURNS, CHANDLER POLICE: The cameras out front actually added to the atmosphere by drawing the suspects into the illusion that they were getting a prize.

MARAVILLA: Eddie Burns set up the cameras for the Chandler Police Department, one in front, one in back and a hidden camera, so officers knew when suspects were coming. When they first showed up in the lobby of the Chandler center for the arts, those with warrants registered at this table, and all these workers here are actually police officers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They had their identity confirmed. They were escorted to the back by undercover officers and they were taken into arrest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have warrant for your arrest.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have warrant for your arrest, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you kidding me?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, you're under arrest.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is this a joke?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, it's not a joke. You are under arrest.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What for?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have warrant for your arrest.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't understand why.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have ticket that you haven't taken care of.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I think so but I don't think -- oh, my God.

MARAVILLA: Some people were upset. Others disappointed, but all seemed surprised. After they were cuffed, the suspects were loaded into a van and taken to jail.

(on camera): After police officers closed up shop and locked the door, two more people showed up banging on the door, insisting they be allowed to claim their prize.

(voice-over): And they were arrested, too.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If anybody has warrants, take care of them.

MARAVILLA: because you never know when the prize patrol is coming.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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