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Story
March 13, 1957
The Key West Citizen
Key West, Monroe County, Florida
What is this article about?
In Key West, rookie cop Carl M. Nobes fired four shots at a speeding car on Duval St. after it failed to stop, hitting nearby buildings. He admitted acting out of anger and was fired by Chief B. G. Perez for lacking level-headedness.
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Says Speeding Auto Made Him Mad Rookie Cop Shoots At Car, Gets Fired
A rookie policeman who electrified residents along Duval St. in downtown Key West early this morning by firing four shots at an auto he accused of exceeding the speed limit was dismissed from the force by Chief B. G. Perez.
Patrolman Carl M. Nobes reported that at 4:15 a. m. he was between Southard and Fleming Sts. on Duval when he observed an auto coming down Duval St. at an excessive rate of speed.
The auto, according to Nobes' report stopped for the traffic light at Southard St. and as it proceeded past him he attempted to halt the vehicle with his flashlight.
"It did not stop as it went past me and I ordered the driver to stop," Nobles reported.
"He turned his face towards me and then started to pick up speed. I fired four shots at his tires. When he hit the brakes, I thought he was stopping, but he was stopping for a red light at Fleming St. He then turned onto Fleming Street.
Patrolman R. A. Saunders and Lt. Eugene Hernandez, hearing the shots went to the scene and reported that they asked Nobes why he fired the shots.
They quoted him as telling them that when the car failed to stop "it made him mad and he fired four shots at the car."
Investigating the area, Hernandez and Saunders, who had then been joined by Patrolman C. W. Jones, found that one of the bullets had hit the residence of Willie Williams, 336 Duval St., where one pellet was recovered.
The officers reported that the bullet went through the upstairs railing and lodged into the wall about a foot below the bedroom in which Mrs. Williams was sleeping.
The night clerk at the Southern Cross Hotel reported that one of the bullets had hit the hotel and another a bench across from the hotel.
Investigating officers were unable to find these bullets.
Chief Perez, who also investigated the incident, this morning separated Nobes from the police department "for the best interest of the department."
Perez said that he felt that Nobes had demonstrated that he was incapable of being level headed enough to be armed with a deadly weapon.
Nobes was serving under a six-month probationary appointment and had not attained full civil service status.
A rookie policeman who electrified residents along Duval St. in downtown Key West early this morning by firing four shots at an auto he accused of exceeding the speed limit was dismissed from the force by Chief B. G. Perez.
Patrolman Carl M. Nobes reported that at 4:15 a. m. he was between Southard and Fleming Sts. on Duval when he observed an auto coming down Duval St. at an excessive rate of speed.
The auto, according to Nobes' report stopped for the traffic light at Southard St. and as it proceeded past him he attempted to halt the vehicle with his flashlight.
"It did not stop as it went past me and I ordered the driver to stop," Nobles reported.
"He turned his face towards me and then started to pick up speed. I fired four shots at his tires. When he hit the brakes, I thought he was stopping, but he was stopping for a red light at Fleming St. He then turned onto Fleming Street.
Patrolman R. A. Saunders and Lt. Eugene Hernandez, hearing the shots went to the scene and reported that they asked Nobes why he fired the shots.
They quoted him as telling them that when the car failed to stop "it made him mad and he fired four shots at the car."
Investigating the area, Hernandez and Saunders, who had then been joined by Patrolman C. W. Jones, found that one of the bullets had hit the residence of Willie Williams, 336 Duval St., where one pellet was recovered.
The officers reported that the bullet went through the upstairs railing and lodged into the wall about a foot below the bedroom in which Mrs. Williams was sleeping.
The night clerk at the Southern Cross Hotel reported that one of the bullets had hit the hotel and another a bench across from the hotel.
Investigating officers were unable to find these bullets.
Chief Perez, who also investigated the incident, this morning separated Nobes from the police department "for the best interest of the department."
Perez said that he felt that Nobes had demonstrated that he was incapable of being level headed enough to be armed with a deadly weapon.
Nobes was serving under a six-month probationary appointment and had not attained full civil service status.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Justice
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Rookie Cop
Police Shooting
Speeding Car
Dismissal
Key West
Reckless Discharge
Probationary Officer
What entities or persons were involved?
Carl M. Nobes
B. G. Perez
R. A. Saunders
Eugene Hernandez
C. W. Jones
Willie Williams
Mrs. Williams
Where did it happen?
Duval St., Key West, Between Southard And Fleming Sts.
Story Details
Key Persons
Carl M. Nobes
B. G. Perez
R. A. Saunders
Eugene Hernandez
C. W. Jones
Willie Williams
Mrs. Williams
Location
Duval St., Key West, Between Southard And Fleming Sts.
Event Date
4:15 A.M. Early This Morning
Story Details
Rookie patrolman Carl M. Nobes fired four shots at a speeding car that failed to stop on Duval St., hitting nearby buildings including Willie Williams' residence and the Southern Cross Hotel. He admitted the car 'made him mad.' Chief B. G. Perez dismissed him for lacking level-headedness while armed.