29.10.2008

Tower crane operator helps police

A tower crane operator in Bellevue, Seattle used his imposing view from his cab, some 75 metres above the ground to help police catch an escaped criminal on Monday.

The operator, Bill Davenport, 57, spotted a man running through the job site below in his stocking feet. He then noticed a group of police officers come running out of City Hall, about half a block away.

Davenport quickly figured out what was happening and radioed a co-worker, Dennis Austin, who was working below and explained what he was watching unfold. He could see that the escapee was running in one direction and the police in another.

"I had absolutely no idea who he was," said Davenport " but I knew he wasn't supposed to be on the construction site." He was quickly put in touch with the police below and was able to tell them that their man was heading in the opposite direction.

With Davenport's guidance, police were able to corner the man and arrest him around four blocks from the site, which is located at 112th Avenue Northeast and Northeast Fourth Street.
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Bill Davenport and his crane

The police said that they were called out after a department of corrections agent had gone to a nearby apartment to arrest Kenneth Rogers, 35, who had been convicted of burglary in Pierce County, He had refused to come to the door and then fled after jumping from a second-story window.

Davenport has been a crane operator for the main contractor, W.G. Clark Construction for 15 years.

Rogers was booked into the King County Jail on the fugitive warrant and for investigation of obstructing a police officer. No bail has been set.