Our surveillance officers, and uniformed Minneapolis cops parked nearby to assist, lost sight of the thief.  I began driving around the neighborhood and located him running down an alley several blocks from the scene of the theft.  I bailed from my car and the foot chase was on.

 

The young suspect could normally easily outdistance me in the chase but he was tiring from his lengthy run prior to me spotting him.  I was keeping up but not gaining on him.  Here I was in plainclothes, gun drawn, chasing a young black male in a predominatly African-American neighborhood.  It was a warm day and many residents were seated on their front steps watching the show and angrily shouting at me.  My lungs were burning and I felt I could not run much further.  I also realized I could be shot by a concerned resident trying to protect this young man being chased by a gun-toting maniac.

 

I kept advising the others of my location but it took a while for the team to locate me.  The first officer to reach my location was the undercover cop.  He leapt from his car and easily tackled the suspect.  Our money and a loaded handgun were found on the suspect.

 

To maintain my macho image I had to chew out the UC for interfering with my chase and arrest.  I lied that I was almost ready to pick up my speed, leap on the suspect and single-handedly subdue him.  I declined the team members offer to give me a ride back to my car.  I needed time to walk and catch my breath while muttering to myself "I'm too old for this."

 

That young undercover officer is now a ranking supervisory member of a major police agency.  I am an unemployed bum.  Go figure!