Quality video leads to quick arrest

The quality of video captured during an armed robbery at JT’s One Stop in Solon Springs on Saturday night led to the quick arrest of three suspects.

“It was very good video, clear,” said Douglas County Sheriff Tom Dalbec. “My understanding is that within 15 minutes of it being televised, somebody called with information.”

The suspects — a 17-year-old female, 18-year-old female and 16-year-old male — were in custody Tuesday, according to Douglas County Sgt. Richard Schnell. All three are Sawyer County residents.

Two of the suspects entered the store as if to purchase a bottle of water, according to a release from Douglas County Chief Deputy Jerry Moe. As the clerk was ringing up the sale, one suspect brandished a semi-automatic pistol and demanded money. They then fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash from the register.

Just prior to this robbery, suspects matching their description did a “dine and dash” theft at the Covered Wagon restaurant in Hawthorne. Video from that business was also high quality, Schnell said.

That isn’t always the case, Dalbec said. Sometimes video images captured by businesses are so grainy it can be hard to tell if the suspect is a male or a female. From a law enforcement standpoint, he said, it helps to have good-quality video taken in case a crime occurs.

“I wish every business had video footage as clear and sharp as that was, because I think that played a huge, huge part in getting the people apprehended,” Dalbec said.

Tags: crime and courts, douglas county, news