Congratulations to our local police officers on the take-down of a very dangerous, attempted murder suspect Thursday. From our little corner of the porch, we’re happy to know this dude won’t be popping caps on anybody for quite some time.

Along with this very good news, your favorite curmudgeon would like to issue a shame-shame to some of our hometowners. The officers who swear themselves to stand between his likes and we who simply want to live and be happy, had been looking for this guy since he shot two other human beings on the last day of January. One victim was shot eight times. He survived.

Every police officer was on the lookout for this suspect, but he somehow managed to remain at large. We say “somehow” managed; we mean, “knowhow” managed. Somebody or bodies gave him a hiding place. Others in our small, tight knit community saw him as he emerged occasionally to move about, but developed lockjaw.

Tips about his whereabouts were occasionally received but even when officers immediately responded they found the information was several hours or even a couple of days old. Intentionally. Not one phone call, not one text, not one email offering officers a hot clue. 

What we found most disturbing was the occasional social media post claiming police were doing nothing. If only the cyber sleuths knew the pressure that was being applied daily…pressure that made this fugitive move constantly and the community shrink accordingly. 

He was fortunately spotted by an officer, doing a pretty fair cuckoo clock canary impersonation behind a vehicle. Suspect soon learned the law has long arms and fast feet. He ran. He got caught.

All that to say, this suspect was caught despite an unfortunate lack of cooperation from individuals who could have easily been victims. One would think if there’s a pest in the house, sufficient measures of removal would be initiated quickly by residents of the house. 

But this pest apparently was permitted, maybe invited inside, perhaps several times. Not sure about the who, when, where or how long, but investigators are probably curious enough to keep looking. Harboring a fugitive is a no-no which could turn into a real naughty called accessory to whatever crime hidden one had committed.

With his capture, Minden can rest comfortably now that a proven shooter of persons is off the streets. But some shouldn’t rest easy. They are the ones that knew something, said nothing and did less. 

One of your humble servant’s police friends said there are more eyes in the public than in all the patrol cars in the country. The problem arises when the mouth attached to that same face slams shut. The same public that remains silent when asked to cooperate with law enforcement is the first to scream for help when their circle of life is in danger. 

And it may very well be the same officer who was scorned, cursed, condemned or ridiculed that comes to the rescue. 

– Pat Culverhouse