BY CAROLYN P. SMITH
News-Democrat
BELLEVILLE -- An off-duty Belleville Police dispatcher on Tuesday recognized a stolen car from the description she had earlier broadcast and kept sight of the suspect until he was arrested.
Police on Wednesday had a 33-year-old Belleville man in custody and expected to receive charges by Thursday.
The dispatcher spotted the stolen green 2003 Ford Taurus early Tuesday morning, Belleville Police Capt. Roger Barfield said.
“The telecommunicator spotted the stolen vehicle in the area of Abend and Caroline Streets and called the dispatchers to tell them that she spotted the stolen vehicle,” Barfield said.
The suspect stopped the car in the 700 block of Caroline Street, got out and walked south on East Grant Street. The dispatcher kept him in sight.
Police arrested the suspect in the 700 block of Abend Street in Belleville.
“This arrest was possible because of our dedicated telecommunicator. Her efforts, above and beyond the call of duty, deserve much praise. We are very grateful to her,” Barfield said.
He would not identify the woman to protect her from retaliation.
Belleville News Democrat (http://www.belleville.com/)