UAF student helps Fairbanks police track down suspected burglars
Published Sunday, May 4, 2008
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Stumble It!A couple suspected of breaking into more than a dozen cars in Fairbanks and Anchorage might still be on the loose if not for Amanda Mortenson.
Mortensen, a 22-year-old University of Alaska Fairbanks student, discovered one of her car windows smashed. Her laptop, filled with study materials she needed for her finals, an iPod and her purse were stolen while the car was parked Monday outside of her work on College Road.
“My first thought was, ‘Who’s mad at me?’” she said.
She had a “small meltdown” then called Fairbanks police to report the crime. However, she was unsatisfied when police told her they couldn’t come out to the scene and that she needed to fax in a report.
“I just wasn’t going to settle for that,” she said.
Next, Mortenson called to cancel her credit card, but was surprised to learn that the culprit had already used it twice at Fred Meyer East. She alerted the security team at the store. Soon afterward, a man and woman came in to use her card, but this time, store security was ready.
Security was able to get a good look at them on tape and a description of their vehicle — an older model gold Honda Civic with a bungie cord holding the trunk down.
“The security team was amazingly helpful and really helped to break this case,” Mortenson said.
The police were alerted that they now had two suspects, but meanwhile Mortenson, her family and friends were on the hunt, driving through Fairbanks in search of the elusive gold Civic.
“I knew time was of the essence,” she said. “If we didn’t get the stuff back soon, we would never find it.”
The search effort was unsuccessful until about 7:30 p.m. A friend of Mortenson’s boyfriend was out with his family and just finished shopping at Fishtopia. While in the parking lot, they were nearly hit by a car.
It was a gold Honda Civic.
“It was a miracle,” Mortenson said. “I’m sure God was in charge of this. I don’t even know how else this could have happened.”
And with that, police were able to arrest Jason Bradley Brisson, 31, and Brenda Audry Rodgers, 41. They have already been charged with two counts of second-degree theft and two counts of a fraudulent access device. Police found more than 70 items reported stolen in recent weeks in their possession, and more charges are likely to be filed soon.
Mortenson didn’t get everything back, but police did return her laptop, allowing her to study for her finals.
“It was a blessing they hadn’t pawned it yet,” she said.
Lt. Dan Welborn of the Fairbanks police department said Mortenson was a big help in apprehending the couple, who were also wanted on multiple warrants out of Anchorage. He said it’s not uncommon for victims of crimes to perform their own investigations.
“We don’t ask them to do it, but it’s not discouraged,” he said.
Anchorage Crime Stoppers was offering a $1,000 reward for information that lead to the capture of Brisson and Rodgers, but because she called police first, they told Mortenson she’s not eligible for the money.
“That was kind of a lame point,” she said. “I probably would have taken everyone who helped out to dinner.”
Community Discussion
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"because she called police first" she's not eligible for the reward? What did they want her to do?
As I understand it, Mike, CrimeStoppers is supposed to serve as a confidential tip line, rather than a way for private investigators or ordinary folks investigating crimes to profit from their efforts.
Fax the report in? Apparently local cops cannot put down their donuts long enough to bother with property crimes. Ms. Mortenson was a "big help"? If not for her the two would likely never have been caught. Barney Fife lives and has many clones.
bogtrotter52
I used to think the same thing until I actually did a ride along
FPD cops for the most part are incredibly busy.
Perhaps you should spend an evening and you would understand this better
Now these two losers become charges of the State and we get to pay for thier housing and meals. So they will continue to take from us while they are locked up. Assuming they are convicted. Then sentenced to any jail time. Societal progression appears to be moving forewards, backwards.
Generally, minor property crimes are a very low priority at FPD and are only solved through victim involvement. Congratulations, Amanda and Friends. Good work!!!
Maybe this is a stupid comment to make.. but it always amazes me how after a crime is committed..anyone that has anything to do with the arrest and or capture of the criminals is then treated to the name of the co-arrestor and learns all they want about their captors....can she safely sleep at night knowing this now? I wouldnt :c(
I see this on the Television all the time.. some criminal is on the loose and the broadcasters are telling the world where the victim lives, their names and where they work and anything else they can think of.... I just find it amazing that any victim exposed on public tv or in the newspaper can sleep knowing the criminal knows all about them now....... sigh
bogtrotter, if you read the FPD annual report you can see that the number of calls for service is astronomical compared to the number of officers. If you really want the police to respond to property crimes why not show up and tell city council to hire more police officers, oh yeah, and be willing to pay for it.
reader1- what other option would you suggest? Let them walk around in public to do it again? You have constantly repeated the same cry that we have to pay for people in prison, what is your suggested alternative? Cut off the hand? Execute? There has to be repercussions for actions like this, so what is it?
Maybe Amanda and the Fred Meyer employees should be put on the police payroll since it seems they put more effort into it than the local police.
For Cheapeakes:
Do our arresting P.D. officers sleep well at night? Does the prosecuting atty. sleep well at night? Does a juror( you've probably been on one)in a trial sleep well at night? I think yes knowing that they did a job well done. If we all lived in fear of reprisal for doing that " well done job " maybe we don't deserve this
country & it's freedoms that so many have given "all " for.Think about
it !!!!!!!!!!
Maybe fewer license plate illuminater traffic stops would free up more time for property crimes.
Well, good news and bad news. The Good News is that someone took initiative on their own part to solve a property crime. The Bad News is the our local law enforcement is to busy or short handed to investigate property crimes. The Good News is she got some of her property back. The Bad News is that we have a criminal element in the this town that are very aware of this and use it as an advantage for their criminal activities. The Good News is at least two people have been incarcerated stopping their run of crimes. The Bad News is that local businesses don't ask for ID with the use of Credit Cards. The Good News is that local businesses will help if asked to apprehend the crooks. The Bad News is, if you call the police and the crooks are captured, you don't get the rewarded for it by Crime Stoppers. Morale of the Story, call Crime Stoppers first.
Thank you Amanda and friends!
I certainly understand the prioritization of responding to crimes but I have to wonder if the police responded to ANY of these property crimes? Might there have been evidence at the first crime scene that would have allowed them to possibly find these perpetrators before they terrorized Fairbanks with their crime spree? It’s just a thought.
But again, I want to thank you Amanda because I for one (take note business owners) would not go to the theater or any other place of business where I had to leave my vehicle for more than a short period time; even after not leaving anything visible in my car. In my opinion, you deserve the Crime Stoppers Award; you’ve truly STOPPED these people from committing more crimes because they probably know the police weren’t going to do much to try and stop them.
Good job Amanda for sticking up for yourself and taking care of business. If you had not, your computer would be at the pawnshop. If the police are so overwhelmed, maybe the state should put more funding into the department. I know there are cuts everywhere, if they took the T.V.'s out of the jails and other unnecessary supposed neccesities then there would be more money for the department. Just a thought.
Good comment, UserName!
The police should investigate real crimes instead of BS. Great job, Amanda! Great job, East Fred's! They did a better job than the police would have done if they had responded. I understand she was investigating only one crime and she had a special intrest in it, but come on! I think she deserves the reward and more... What is wrong with crime stoppers? She deserves it, the $1000 certainly won't break there bank account. She went beyond just calling in an annonymous tip.
if I were rich I would give her $1000 in the name of stopping a crime.
A note to Chesapeakes' concern above:
A family member who was proud of what she had done told us about the story. We worked with Ms. Mortenson and, grudgingly, considered anonymity as a possibility with this story. It was her decision to come forward and we applaud her for making this a more personal, and thus more meaningful, story.
This is what citizens should do in an open society. You can share your name, which is a powerful public gesture, without sacrificing your sense of security. She did request that her photo not be taken and we respected that request.
Hiding her name from the accused is moot anyway. They will know how they were caught through the courts -- and that happened while they were in possession of her credit cards and personal belongings.
When criminals cause us to hide our names, the criminals win.
Can't show up to investigate a crime.No wonder why people are victimized.Cops get paid by you the taxpayer.So,to the cops do the job your paid to do.Protect and to serve.
I'm glad she got her property back, and especially glad nobody tried to apprehend these two directly. It was the right decision to call FPD immediately. I can't understand why she wouldn't get a reward for bringing in the perpetrators of so many crimes, however. That just seems wrong. The whole idea of crimestoppers is to stop crime, and they offer the incentive to increase the chances that people will become involved when they have knowledge that can solve crimes. So is she being punished for calling the wrong phone number? She called the number that would generate the fastest response, and was successful. So she should be paid for her efforts.
The cops in this town are a disgrace, well wait let me rephrase that, the Troopers are decent but local PD are pathetic.
Way to go Amamnda! Now I want you to move to Anchorage and solve some crimes for us down in the big city. Bring your friends too! I'm so proud of you (yea, this is your uncle...)
"He said it’s not uncommon for victims of crimes to perform their own investigations. We don’t ask them to do it, but it’s not discouraged, he said"
I get that FPD is shamefully understaffed. But what happens when the next person tries to investigate their own crime and either makes a mistake (it can and does happen) or meets someone "who were also wanted on multiple warrants out of Anchorage." that does not intend to go to jail and will fight over the point. Despite the best efforts of this young lady and her friends the ONLY reason this did not end in a gunfight is pure luck. If the story is accurate Lt. Dan Welborn either gave an incredibly stupid quote or he owes this city an apology for professional irresponsibility and should maybe seek another line of work other than speaking for law enforcement.
Congrats Amanda, I think that's great! I think you should get that money!
A note for JBrian : Your words of a private citizen confronting possibly dangerous "dirt bags" should be well taken by us all. But you have your wires crossed and are mis-informed on this particular event. The victims called 911 & gave F.P.D. the location & other info.
on the car/etc. The victims did not apprehend the bad guys, F.P.D. did the apprehending, if there had been a gunfight as you described, it would've been between the trained professionals & the bad guys(would anyone out there like to project a winner in that contest !!! )So thanks for your sound advice ( I'm serious about that ) but you apparently speak with out the benefit of facts in this case. Maybe you should try another line of work !!!!!!!!Not the Lt. at F.P.D.
The Troopers write a report on every theft in their area...even if it is a one page report. This allows trends can be recognized and possibly tracked if there is common denominators. FPD on the other hand will tell you to fill out a form and maybe give you a case number for insurance purposes. Oh by the way FPD did have a good property crime investigators but they have been put back on patrol.
"The cops there don't need you and man you'd better expect the same"
Bob Dylan
Thank you Amanda, you have put a helped put a small crime wave out of business.
People need to remember, this is our town.
Most of us have cell phones, please use them. Whenever I spot those characters swerving back and forth, I get the licence number and discription, and call it in to the Troopers.
Ok you are absolutely right I used way to strong of language in trying to make my point. I have that tendency in these forums, my apologies to the Lt. I am eating my crow pie for desert tonight. However I stand by by the idea that UNFORTUNATELY by not discouraging criminal investigations by the victims you are however inadvertently it may be, encouraging it and to say so in the newspaper is an abdication of professional responsibilities. In this town in particular this course of action will eventually lead to tragedy.
The FPD as a whole does seem to have many faults, but there are police officers out there that do care, and he should receive credit for the efforts that he put into the case. This could have not happened without everyone that was involved. My hat is off to Lt. Welborn and many thanks go to you. It is good to see that there are still a few officers out there that want to get the "dirt bags".
Please don't get me wrong FPD may indeed "have a lot of faults as a whole" but it has been my experience that many if not most of those are the result of overall dysfunction in city government not individual department mismanagement, S*!! rolls downhill. My objection was to a particular mistake in judgment related to articulation of concepts and ideas through speech, very similar to the one I made in my original post. Make no mistake in Fairbanks we get exactly the police department we pay for, sometimes we even get a damn good bargain. And now I officially swear off the comments section.
JBrian, no reason to swear off the comments, it is good to see how different people think different.
It all boils down to what I have stated in these forums before, The FPD can't make any money (and help support themselves) from arresting people who don't have any money to go after.
Now on the other hand, If you are a hard working citizen trying to make it to work with a light out on your license plate, expect they will be pulling you over for the fine income.
Maybe they should spend a little more time on real crimes and criminals and less time harrassing honest people for frivolous traffic infractions.(actually fishing for bigger fineable offenses)
The police are supposed to be a service and not a money making, for profit business. Remember? Serve and protect?
Yeah, good luck with that....
ClearH2O, then how do you explain the hundreds and hundreds of domestic violence arrests made each year in this town? Not exactly a money making endeavor. And as I have said time and again on these posts, any money raised by the departments (state or local) does NOT go to the department. It goes to the state or the city, which does not share its rewards proportionately with the department just because the department made the arrest. The officers are making these stops and arrests because they are trying to make the community safe, not because they are trying to make money. No matter how much property Amanda lost (and I am thrilled she got at least some of it back, good for her!), it does not make up for the life or health that could be lost when there is a crime against a person (including a violent crash involving alcohol.) That is why the departments focus so much more on people crimes (and DUI enforcement) than property crimes. They don't have the resources to do it all (because that is the way we the taxpayers want it), so they have to prioritize.
On another note, thank you to Amanda for putting forth the effort, and I'm glad to see her efforts were rewarded in the form of getting her laptop back, and I too think she should get the crimestoppers money.
To Batman and Kelly Bostian'
First to Batman.. to say "what about the police etc..do they sleep well at night" this I have to say as much.. they are at least trained to take care of themselves and have a bit more sense of self protection than the average woman.
To Kelly Bostian: I stand corrected. I did not consider that she may have approved her name and or info in the paper. My apologies. Thankyou for bringing this to my attention.
Punk cops stopped me the other night for no reason at all. They said that I was stopped because I rolled through a light when I clearly did not. They followed me for almost a mile and a half after this alleged run through a light. If I did run through the light then they should have stopped me right there and then instead of following me for a mile and a half. They are never there when you need them. They are only there when they need to make the month end quota. Just goes to show you that they are not always doing what they are trained to do which is to serve and protect instead of wasting an innocent persons time.
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