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American Morning
Interview With Orin Augustus, Robert Jenkins, Marlon DeFillo
Aired January 09, 2004 - 08:16 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The motto of the U.S. Coast Guard is semper paratus, always prepared. That code was put to the test yesterday when two Coast Guard petty officers happened upon a bank robbery that had turned into a deadly shootout.
Warren Augustus and Robert Jenkins helped police in New Orleans apprehend three suspects and they join us this morning from the gas station next to the bank, which is where they were at the time of the robbery.
Also with us this morning is New Orleans Police Captain Marlon DeFillo.
Gentleman, to all of you, good morning, and thank you very much for being with us.
Petty Officer Augustus, let's begin with you.
You were finishing up a training exercise and you were actually at the gas station gassing up when you noticed something very unusual.
Describe for me what you noticed.
PETTY OFFICER ORIN AUGUSTUS, U.S. COAST GUARD: Well, I saw two suspects exiting the bank. One had a ski mask on and the other had a pistol in his hand. And at that point, I just thought of what was going on.
O'BRIEN: So you were pretty clear at that point that you had sort of happened upon a bank robbery.
Petty Officer Jenkins, what did you do next?
PETTY OFFICER ROBERT JENKINS, U.S. COAST GUARD: I went to Petty Officer Augustus to see if he knew what was going on and, you know, he was already out of the truck and we both drew our weapons and told the guy to go on the ground and drop his weapon, which he did.
O'BRIEN: So it was his misfortune to walk out into two armed petty officers.
Now, do the two of you normally carry weapons or was this something that was particularly unusual?
AUGUSTUS: No. Most of the time, the only time we actually have weapons on us is during an ammo or a gun transport. And we just happened to be on our way back from an ammo offload yesterday and stopped to get fuel.
O'BRIEN: So it was very fortuitous.
How nervous were you bringing this guy down? AUGUSTUS: Oh, it had my -- I was surprised and anxious, I guess, would be the words to use.
O'BRIEN: Once you got the first guy down, then you ran off to chase another suspect.
And I want to turn now to Captain Marlon DeFillo with the New Orleans Police Department. And we do have to say that two of the deputies, the sheriff's deputies, were injured in this robbery in the bank. One actually ended up dying from his injuries.
Do you think the suspects would have been caught eventually, Captain, if you hadn't had the help from the petty officers?
CAPT. MARLON DEFILLO, NEW ORLEANS POLICE: Well, it would have been very difficult. We would have relied on videotape, a surveillance tape that we had in the bank. But certainly any time you have a quick apprehension on the scene, it makes it a lot easier for prosecution.
O'BRIEN: In addition, of course, your local officers were on the scene. They were able to wrestle down one of the suspects, as well, is that right?
DEFILLO: That's correct. After the Coast Guard servicemen intervened, we had another officer who happened upon the shooting. He radioed for assistance and we had approximately four additional officers within the immediate area. And their quick response, the quick response by the Coast Guardsmen, we made quick apprehensions.
O'BRIEN: Truly a case of everybody working together.
DEFILLO: Absolutely.
O'BRIEN: As I mentioned, Petty Officer Augustus and Petty Officer Jenkins, the two of you then went after the third suspect and with a little help from the people who were standing around pointing out his direction, you were able to bring that person down, as well.
When you look back now, how do you feel about what you did, what you were able to accomplish?
AUGUSTUS: Well, actually, the third, the third suspect we went after, but an officer already had him down. The police responded so quickly that we didn't have to accomplish a whole ourselves. So it was great.
O'BRIEN: You must be feeling pretty good about what you did. Gentlemen, I thank you all for being with us this morning.
We've got Petty Officer Orin Augustus, also, Petty Officer Robert Jenkins and Captain Marlon DeFillo of the New Orleans Police Department.
Thanks, guys.
Appreciate it.
Congratulations to 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 January 9, 2004 - 08:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The motto of the U.S. Coast Guard is semper paratus, always prepared. That code was put to the test yesterday when two Coast Guard petty officers happened upon a bank robbery that had turned into a deadly shootout.
Warren Augustus and Robert Jenkins helped police in New Orleans apprehend three suspects and they join us this morning from the gas station next to the bank, which is where they were at the time of the robbery.
Also with us this morning is New Orleans Police Captain Marlon DeFillo.
Gentleman, to all of you, good morning, and thank you very much for being with us.
Petty Officer Augustus, let's begin with you.
You were finishing up a training exercise and you were actually at the gas station gassing up when you noticed something very unusual.
Describe for me what you noticed.
PETTY OFFICER ORIN AUGUSTUS, U.S. COAST GUARD: Well, I saw two suspects exiting the bank. One had a ski mask on and the other had a pistol in his hand. And at that point, I just thought of what was going on.
O'BRIEN: So you were pretty clear at that point that you had sort of happened upon a bank robbery.
Petty Officer Jenkins, what did you do next?
PETTY OFFICER ROBERT JENKINS, U.S. COAST GUARD: I went to Petty Officer Augustus to see if he knew what was going on and, you know, he was already out of the truck and we both drew our weapons and told the guy to go on the ground and drop his weapon, which he did.
O'BRIEN: So it was his misfortune to walk out into two armed petty officers.
Now, do the two of you normally carry weapons or was this something that was particularly unusual?
AUGUSTUS: No. Most of the time, the only time we actually have weapons on us is during an ammo or a gun transport. And we just happened to be on our way back from an ammo offload yesterday and stopped to get fuel.
O'BRIEN: So it was very fortuitous.
How nervous were you bringing this guy down? AUGUSTUS: Oh, it had my -- I was surprised and anxious, I guess, would be the words to use.
O'BRIEN: Once you got the first guy down, then you ran off to chase another suspect.
And I want to turn now to Captain Marlon DeFillo with the New Orleans Police Department. And we do have to say that two of the deputies, the sheriff's deputies, were injured in this robbery in the bank. One actually ended up dying from his injuries.
Do you think the suspects would have been caught eventually, Captain, if you hadn't had the help from the petty officers?
CAPT. MARLON DEFILLO, NEW ORLEANS POLICE: Well, it would have been very difficult. We would have relied on videotape, a surveillance tape that we had in the bank. But certainly any time you have a quick apprehension on the scene, it makes it a lot easier for prosecution.
O'BRIEN: In addition, of course, your local officers were on the scene. They were able to wrestle down one of the suspects, as well, is that right?
DEFILLO: That's correct. After the Coast Guard servicemen intervened, we had another officer who happened upon the shooting. He radioed for assistance and we had approximately four additional officers within the immediate area. And their quick response, the quick response by the Coast Guardsmen, we made quick apprehensions.
O'BRIEN: Truly a case of everybody working together.
DEFILLO: Absolutely.
O'BRIEN: As I mentioned, Petty Officer Augustus and Petty Officer Jenkins, the two of you then went after the third suspect and with a little help from the people who were standing around pointing out his direction, you were able to bring that person down, as well.
When you look back now, how do you feel about what you did, what you were able to accomplish?
AUGUSTUS: Well, actually, the third, the third suspect we went after, but an officer already had him down. The police responded so quickly that we didn't have to accomplish a whole ourselves. So it was great.
O'BRIEN: You must be feeling pretty good about what you did. Gentlemen, I thank you all for being with us this morning.
We've got Petty Officer Orin Augustus, also, Petty Officer Robert Jenkins and Captain Marlon DeFillo of the New Orleans Police Department.
Thanks, guys.
Appreciate it.
Congratulations to 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
