Not your normal stop and account

I stopped Charlie Lane last night. Unexpectedly he was quite calm and chatty. I had clearly stopped him in a good mood.
Charlie told me how he had had enough of the town and was 'getting out for good' and heading up north. This was excellent news, Charlie is a violent drug dealer who is not averse to a little bit of kidnap and GBH, usually using a machete or axe. I ran Charlie through PNC - known not wanted or disqualified and the normal warning markers. Then Charlie said something completely unexpected. It took me back, in fact my reaction must have been so obvious that Charlie actually laughed at me. Charlie had apologised. He apologised for all the 'shit' that he had caused over the last 10 years, for being an arse to police and for generally being a general pain. I stood there for a minute and mulled this over. Charlie had apologised in such a way that he had not incriminated himself but was heartfelt (well as heartfelt as he could given that he was a grade A psycho). I thanked Charlie for the apology and let him on his way, wishing him well for the future. The one conversation I have had with him over the years that hadn't ended with me putting handcuffs on and calling for backup (actually it was normally the other way round). Upon my return to the station I submitted a detailed intel report, it's only fair to warn other forces after all.
I don't know if leopards can change their spots, but if they survive the jungle they all grow older. But their claws remain just as sharp.



-- Post From My iPhone