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American Morning
Sex Assault Arrest
Aired July 17, 2003 - 08:31 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The man suspected of molesting an 11- year-old girl in a West Virginia Target store in custody now. Police say a tip led them to 37-year-old Allen Dwayne Coates, arrested yesterday in Louisville, Kentucky, about 200 miles from the alleged crime scene. Coates, accused of sexually assaulting the girl at knifepoint on Saturday in the store in South Charleston, West Virginia.
From that town now, Police Sergeant Robert Yeager is back with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
Sergeant, thanks for coming back, and good morning to you. What can you tell us about the tip that was phoned in to you?
SGT. ROBERT YEAGER, SOUTH CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA: We received the tip shortly before 10:00 the night before, and the information that was in the -- that the tipster had, we knew was relevant to this case, and at that time, we sent two detectives to Louisville, Kentucky to investigate it.
HEMMER: How specific was it? How detailed?
YEAGER: It was very specific, very detailed. It was information that only someone close to this case would have known. The information hadn't been released to the media, so we knew it was a really good tip when it came in.
HEMMER: Was it a family member?
YEAGER: I can't comment on who the tipster was?
HEMMER: How about a friend? Can I push you on that one?
YEAGER: I can't comment right now.
HEMMER: I understand the family is quite relieved, and boy, understandably so. What have they told you?
YEAGER: They're just really relieved to have this section, this part of this ordeal over with. The little girl is able to rest a little bit easier now, knowing that this subject is off the street, and that she doesn't have to worry about him doing those anyone else.
HEMMER: Is this same man, is he connected now to Ashland, Kentucky in a similar case about an hour from your town.
YEAGER: I can't really comment on the specifics of their case, but I do understand that they have connected these two incidents, and I believe he will be facing charges.
HEMMER: But you don't know the evidence that you can share with us right now that would put one and one together?
YEAGER: No, I don't.
HEMMER: I understand NASA had a role in this, using some enhanced techniques. Did that help you, or in the end, did you not need NASA's help?
YEAGER: We never got to fully use the video footage that they had -- were able to compile for us. However, throughout the investigation, we were getting bits and pieces, and as those bits and pieces would come in, they were very helpful in solving this.
HEMMER: And do you believe in addition to the two cases we've discussed already that this man may be wanted for other sexual assaults?
YEAGER: At this time, I have no evidence that will connect him to any others, but you can't rule out the possibility that he is connected to others.
HEMMER: Is there any way in this matter that you, as an investigator on this case, and a sergeant in your hometown, that you can tell stores and department stores to try and keep kids safer if, indeed, they get disconnected from their parents?
YEAGER: Well, I think that needs to start with the parents. As far as the stores, a store like this, that has very sophisticated surveillance system, it's monitored a good bit of the time. I don't know exactly how much. I don't know what else a store can do short of putting a security guard in every aisle, and I don't think that's, you know, reasonable.
HEMMER: I think you're on to something there. The suspect coming back to your state any time soon?
YEAGER: We don't know yet. That's kind of out of our hands. That's more up to the court system. We haven't heard yet of any expected date or time when he might be back here.
HEMMER: Sergeant Robert Yeager, thanks, in Charleston, West Virginia.
YEAGER: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 17, 2003 - 08:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The man suspected of molesting an 11- year-old girl in a West Virginia Target store in custody now. Police say a tip led them to 37-year-old Allen Dwayne Coates, arrested yesterday in Louisville, Kentucky, about 200 miles from the alleged crime scene. Coates, accused of sexually assaulting the girl at knifepoint on Saturday in the store in South Charleston, West Virginia.
From that town now, Police Sergeant Robert Yeager is back with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
Sergeant, thanks for coming back, and good morning to you. What can you tell us about the tip that was phoned in to you?
SGT. ROBERT YEAGER, SOUTH CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA: We received the tip shortly before 10:00 the night before, and the information that was in the -- that the tipster had, we knew was relevant to this case, and at that time, we sent two detectives to Louisville, Kentucky to investigate it.
HEMMER: How specific was it? How detailed?
YEAGER: It was very specific, very detailed. It was information that only someone close to this case would have known. The information hadn't been released to the media, so we knew it was a really good tip when it came in.
HEMMER: Was it a family member?
YEAGER: I can't comment on who the tipster was?
HEMMER: How about a friend? Can I push you on that one?
YEAGER: I can't comment right now.
HEMMER: I understand the family is quite relieved, and boy, understandably so. What have they told you?
YEAGER: They're just really relieved to have this section, this part of this ordeal over with. The little girl is able to rest a little bit easier now, knowing that this subject is off the street, and that she doesn't have to worry about him doing those anyone else.
HEMMER: Is this same man, is he connected now to Ashland, Kentucky in a similar case about an hour from your town.
YEAGER: I can't really comment on the specifics of their case, but I do understand that they have connected these two incidents, and I believe he will be facing charges.
HEMMER: But you don't know the evidence that you can share with us right now that would put one and one together?
YEAGER: No, I don't.
HEMMER: I understand NASA had a role in this, using some enhanced techniques. Did that help you, or in the end, did you not need NASA's help?
YEAGER: We never got to fully use the video footage that they had -- were able to compile for us. However, throughout the investigation, we were getting bits and pieces, and as those bits and pieces would come in, they were very helpful in solving this.
HEMMER: And do you believe in addition to the two cases we've discussed already that this man may be wanted for other sexual assaults?
YEAGER: At this time, I have no evidence that will connect him to any others, but you can't rule out the possibility that he is connected to others.
HEMMER: Is there any way in this matter that you, as an investigator on this case, and a sergeant in your hometown, that you can tell stores and department stores to try and keep kids safer if, indeed, they get disconnected from their parents?
YEAGER: Well, I think that needs to start with the parents. As far as the stores, a store like this, that has very sophisticated surveillance system, it's monitored a good bit of the time. I don't know exactly how much. I don't know what else a store can do short of putting a security guard in every aisle, and I don't think that's, you know, reasonable.
HEMMER: I think you're on to something there. The suspect coming back to your state any time soon?
YEAGER: We don't know yet. That's kind of out of our hands. That's more up to the court system. We haven't heard yet of any expected date or time when he might be back here.
HEMMER: Sergeant Robert Yeager, thanks, in Charleston, West Virginia.
YEAGER: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
