This is also one of those stories that almost escaped being
written down. The author, Joel Engel, became sidetracked with many other
projects over the years, but this story always hung in the back of his mind. He
began to write it all up in 1990, but then became sidetracked again when he was
called upon to work; pro-bono; on a rape case in which the man was innocent,
and Mr. Engel, along with a team of lawyers, worked successfully to free him.
During that time, he became aware of the many similarities in the mishandling
of the latter case to that of the earlier one from 1956. This was the catalyst
which moved Mr. Engel to finish writing this book. That case almost sent an
innocent man to his death for crimes he did not commit. That the man was a
former police officer was no help to him at all in 1956. He escaped the
ultimate penalty only through the hard work of Detective Galindo at a time when
minority officers were mere tokens.
In the summer of 1956 there was someone roaming the lover’s
lanes of the Los Angeles area impersonating a police officer. He was a big man,
and black. His usual way of operating involved a phony police badge and a
flashlight, which he used as props to separate young couples he found necking
in cars. Posing as a police officer he would order the young man to get in his
car; an old Desoto; and then drive him a distance away before letting him out.
He would then return to the woman and rape her.
The attacks escalated and soon came to involve a handgun as
one of the props. The rapist, Willie Fields, bought the gun from a friend who
was a World War Two combat veteran and had taken the German luger pistol from a
dead Nazi. It was clear to Detective Galindo that the criminal was becoming
more bold and daring in his crimes, and that only a short time existed before
he graduated to murdering his victims.
Detective Danny Galindo was an unusual man for the LAPD in
the 1950’s. As a Mexican-American he was tolerated by his colleagues, but never
encouraged. In spite of that he continued to move forward in his career, even
helping Jack Webb with the television series “Dragnet.” If you are a fan of the
original TV show then you will recall that many times Joe Friday was always
telling someone to give certain cases to another Detective, sating, “Give it to
Galindo.” This was an inside joke
between the two men who had formed an unlikely friendship. That their
friendship would help to solve this case was probably the furthest thing from
Detective Galindo’s mind as he struggled with the crimes.
Complicating matters is the fact that former Police Officer
Todd Roark is charged with the crimes committed by Willie Fields. And as far as
the top brass are concerned, they have their man. So, unless the rapist strikes
again, Todd Roark is going to take the fall for these crimes.
Meantime, Danny Galindo has met with the victim of Willie’s
first attempted rape, a young white woman named Margie. From her he is able to
draw the strength he needs to close this case. But, at the same time, he is
falling in love with her; and she with him. If this were to become apparent to
anybody in the Department; or even out of it; Danny’s career would be ruined.
The incident which brought Willie Fields to justice was a
sting operation involving 12 units of two officers apiece perking in lover’s
lanes waiting to be attacked. With the help of the Universal Studios make up
department, half of the officers are outfitted as women and sent to various parts
of the city to wait an attack. They didn’t have to wait too long.
After about 10 days of stakeouts, and at about the time when
even Detective Galindo is ready to call it quits, Willie Fields attempts to
attack Galindo and the woman officer he is parked with. A chase ensues and the
suspect gets way. But, as worked up as he is, he cannot go home and almost
immediately attacks another decoy officer nearby. He is finally captured and
sent to prison.
The author has taken the time show how justice isn’t always
justice, by following up on what happened to the main characters in the
investigation. Willie Fields, the rapist, ended up serving two years for
multiple rapes, robberies and assaulting a police officer with a deadly weapon.
While in jail he took carpentry lessons and was gainfully employed as a
carpenter until his death. He married and had a family.
Todd Roark, on the other hand, was the victim of not only
Willie Fields and a corrupt, racist justice system; he was also the victim of his
former wife, who never told his daughter that he was cleared of the rape
charges against him. She did not learn the truth until her father had already
passed away, with his daughter never forgiving him for something he hadn’t done
in the first place.
Danny Galindo was the real winner in the whole story. He went
on to work the Manson case, and also married Margie and together they raised a
family. This is a quickly read book which calls attention to our perceptions
versus reality, as well as the way times have changed since the events depicted
in the narrative. I can’t wait to see this one made into a movie.
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