Jefferson City police could use our help.
At least twice during the past week, the Jefferson City Police Department has been stymied by a lack of cooperation from people at crime scenes.
On Monday we reported that several individuals were found covered in blood in the 200 block of Commercial Way just before midnight Saturday night.
Callers had reported multiple people and the use of firearms. One 20-year-old man lying in the road suffered multiple stab wounds, but the man couldn't give a description of his attackers. Another blood-covered subject said he had "fallen down the stairs."
A third subject, who had a laceration to his head, was uncooperative.
Then, just after 11 p.m. Wednesday night, police responded to McClung Park after reports of shots being fired.
Responding officers located multiple spent casings in the parking lot and other signs of a weapon's discharge. Officers also confiscated a 40-caliber handgun and over 16 spent casings were recovered near the park's indoor pavilion.
No one was injured, but "multiple" vehicles were hit by gunfire. Again, numerous individuals were contacted but declined to provide investigators with information.
And again, due to a lack of cooperation, no arrests were made.
It's something police deal with regularly - an unwritten code among criminals that "snitches get stitches." It's frustrating for police, and it's frustrating for us because we pay them to keep us safe.
People who behave like this obviously place a low value on life. When this kind of potentially deadly fighting happens in public places, we suspect the participants wouldn't value the lives of innocent bystanders much more than the people with whom they are fighting.
This is not who we are as a community, and the people involved need to be brought to justice. So if you know anything about these two incidents - or if you know someone who does - please contact the JCPD at 634-6400 or you can contact CrimeStoppers anonymously at 659-TIPS (659-8477) or at jeffcitycrimestoppers.com.
News Tribune