Serving Santa
While attempting to serve a Summons and Complaint in Denver, we noticed two vehicles,
one in the driveway, the other parked on the street, however no one would answer
the door. We assumed that Billy Bob knew we were after him, because we served
his business partner the prior day. Before leaving, we the noted each license
plate number to determine if either of the vehicles belonged to the subject. Once back at the office, we ran the plate numbers and found the truck parked in
the driveway belonged to Billy.
On our second attempt at service, the truck was
gone and we were told by the roommate the suspect Billy Bob left town to visit
his uncle out of state. Of course, the roommate did not have any idea how to
contact Billy nor when he would return. About our fourth attempt, we saw Bill's
truck parked in the driveway. Yet again, no one answered the door. We decided it
was time to talk to neighbors. They informed us Billy was the middle of three
brothers, each similar in build, each having a white Santa Claus beard, yet the
oldest was the tallest and the youngest was the shortest. The neighbors also
verified the truck belonged to Billy.
After ten attempts I thought we had struck
gold. When we turned the corner onto Billy's street, I saw not one, but two males
with a Santa Claus beard leaning against the front of the truck parked in the
driveway. Soon I found it was "not" my lucky day. The two males were the oldest
and the youngest brothers. I verified by seeing their driver licenses. As it
goes with folks attempting to avoid service the whole family is usually involved
in helping the suspect hide.
We requested and were authorized to do surveillance. This was awkward because we
were doing surveillance on a truck parked around the block and we had no idea
which of the brothers would make the trip through the jungle to get to it.
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I
decided to take my digital camera, because for all I knew the brothers could
have swapped driver licenses to protect Billy. All I knew was who ever got in the
truck was getting their picture taken and served. I figured we could sort it out
in court.
I arrived about 5:30 a.m. and was very glad to see the truck parked
on the block behind the house. About 7:30 a.m. I saw a man wearing a cowboy hat
emerge from the field and start towards the truck. I started my car and drove
through the intersection towards the truck. The man noticed my vehicle and
changed direction to walk past the passenger side of the truck. By the time I
stopped my vehicle the man who had a Santa Claus beard had walked about 50 feet
past the truck, as if it did not belong to him.
I called out his name to which
he grunted and shook his head no. Again, calling out his name with the same
response. I stated "if you want to play games let's play like this." I ran 10
feet in front of him, snapped his picture with my digital camera to which he
responded "Okay, you got me, what do you have for me", extending his hand to
accept the papers. Upon accepting the summons and complaint, Billy turned around
walked back to the truck, unlocked the door, started the vehicle and drove away.
I do not know how I controlled my excitement, because when I got back to my
vehicle I threw my arms in the air, yelling "gotcha!" After my end zone dance, I
turned on the camera wanting to see the picture of a stunned man with a Santa
Claus beard, only to find that in my excitement I took a picture of the
street.
Maybe the title of this story should be "Picture of the Year."
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