If you bring pizza, the criminals will answer the door!

If you are trying to arrest a wanted fugitive, they will not always open the door just because you have a gun and badge. What will they open the door for? Pizza!

We often receive tips letting us know where people are or where they may be hanging out. One key factor when it comes to arresting someone at their home for a warrant is that they have to open the door when you knock. We cannot go into a house to arrest someone unless we see them ourselves or have enough information to get a search warrant to enter the home, and that takes specific documented information before we can apply for the search warrant.

There are many times when we know someone is more than likely in the home, but just will not answer the door when we knock. As I have said before, criminals are not the brightest bulbs in the socket, but when they see a Sheriff's car and a uniformed deputy knocking at their door, they decide maybe they should not answer.

This past week, there was someone with a warrant who was not answering their door. Members of law enforcement had made many attempts to contact the person, but it always grew strangely quiet when they knocked. We had gathered enough information to apply for a search warrant when one of our detectives asked if he could give it a shot "under cover."

We have tried this before with some success but when people have warrants they typically will not answer the door for a stranger any more than they will for a cop. "Anyone will answer the door for pizza," the detective said. I am always willing to try something new, so we found some clothing items that resembled a pizza delivery person's, and the new Vernon County Pizza delivery boy (along with other deputies hiding around the corner) knocked on the door once more.

This time however, the door came open and the pizza boy was asked if the pizza was already paid for. Shortly after, the fugitive was arrested! We were very sad to break the news to the other people in the house that there was not actually any pizza in the box, but thanked them for opening the door for us.

They say "if you build it they will come," well we have decided "if you bring pizza they will answer." It will not be a secret that we used this method to make an arrest, so what I want all the wanted fugitives out there to know is that if you do not want to do the right thing and turn yourself in, or answer the door when we attempt to serve the arrest warrant, be aware that we could be anyone you see.

We could be the pizza guy, the plumber, or the salesman; you will not know when we are coming, and we will always be looking for you. If you have made a bad decision, take responsibility for your actions and do the right thing. You cannot outrun charges; they will follow you wherever you go. Do the right thing, or you could be the next person we deliver pizza to!