Faces on the Front Line
Lexington Armed Robber Nabbed through FACES Composite
Less than eight hours after a February 1999 armed robbery, Lexington, Nebraska police had a picture of the suspect. And 13 hours later, they had the suspect behind bars.
Police Investigator Ken Schumacher credits an accurate description of the robber by the victim and media coverage for the quick arrest – as well as FACES, a computer software program police used to create a quick composite picture of the suspect.
It was that picture that led to the arrest, Schumacher said.
“This software is really something… It allows us to have an artist, something that wouldn’t ordinarily have been available to us,” Schumacher said. With FACES, law enforcement agencies can develop a high-quality graphic with unprecedented speed and ease.
After the early morning robbery in this south central Nebraska town of 10,000, Schumacher sat down with the store clerk and quickly put together the composite picture.
Police released the description and picture and a tip led to a 28-year-old man’s arrest. He was charged with robbery, use of a weapon to commit a felony and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Michigan Police use FACES to Apprehend Suspect in Realtor Attack
A Monroe, Michigan man was arrested and charged with criminal sexual conduct after a FACES composite sketch generated a series of public tips.
The case involved a 23-year-old Livonia realtor who was sexually assaulted in December 1998 while showing a model home. Canton township police detectives considered bringing in a skilled composite artist from the state of Michigan, but opted to use FACES after being contacted by Michigan’s Most Wanted and told about the new software.
The resulting composite was aired on Michigan’s Most Wanted, Detroit TV stations, and local daily and weekly newspapers. Tips led to the capture of the suspected rapist, a 37-year-old male, who was arraigned in February, 1999.
Canton police say use of the FACES program provided a more accurate picture of the suspect. “The first time we used FACES it was on a major case,” said Officer Leonard Schemanski, “It proved vital to the suspect’s apprehension”.
For more information on IQ Biometrix and Faces please visit, www.iqbiometrix.com or call 1-888-321-5553.
