THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 1, 1995 TAG: 9506010417
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
After 3 1/2 years and nearly 12,000 miles on bicycle patrol, Officer C.R. Amos has made his first bike-on-bike capture.
Amos tracked down a burglary suspect fleeing on a bicycle Tuesday morning. Arresting crooks on bikes is not common, but for Amos it was simply part of the job.
``It was a good catch for the bike patrol,'' he said. ``We've got about 30 guys doing the same type stuff every day. For a bike officer it was just another day at the office.''
Amos said he was on patrol in Roberts Village when he heard the dispatcher's call that a burglary suspect had been spotted.
A maintenance man had seen the suspect leaving the back door of a residence in the 5300 block of Bellefield Road in the Crown Point section about 11:30 a.m.
The maintenance man notified police and a description was broadcast of a black man on a bicycle hauling loot in a green pillowcase.
The scenario was just right for bike officers, Amos said.
``In fact, we joke when we hear calls go out of suspects on bikes because that's picture-perfect for us,'' he said.
So Amos began to ride along Princess Anne Road to head off the suspect.
The suspect was moving toward Norfolk Industrial Park, where he may have been able to hide behind warehouses, Amos said.
``I thought I could get to him on the bike far easier than someone in a car or on foot,'' Amos said.
Amos spotted the man riding a green and silver bicycle in the 3000 block of E. Princess Anne Road.
The man was pedaling casually, trying to look inconspicuous, Amos said. The dispatcher's description seemed to fit.
The officer discreetly passed the suspect on the other side of the street to get a better look. Satisfied he had his man, Amos radioed that he was closing in.
``I went for it instead of waiting for the calvary,'' he said, referring to officers in patrol cars.
Amos said the element of surprise worked for him.
``I caught him off guard and cut his bike off,'' Amos said. ``He stopped and. . . I think me being on the bike startled him. He didn't know what to do.''
Donnie Cannon, 41, of the 5400 block of Bayberry Drive, was charged with burglary. Recovered from the pillowcase was a VCR and several other items, police said.
``It's not every day a policeman on a bike comes up from behind you,'' Amos said. ``He threw up the white flag and surrendered.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
BETH BERGMAN
Staff
``It was a good catch for the bike patrol,'' Norfolk Police officer
C.R. Amos said Wednesday.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK POLICE BICYCLE PATROL ARREST by CNB