Well, I am back and thought I would share yesterday with you guys... this is a bit lengthy... but of course, you have nothing better to do................ right?
I offer this info to the newbies in hopes of enlightening and maybe instructing them.... but then, this is just my take on how I operate... others may differ and that is fine.... take this for what it is worth...
Called out around 8am... did a small bond and while there a lady walked up to me and ask if I was her bondsman??? Well, I said 'who did you call'... she told me and said he was due there around 9am but had not shown up or called... (Monday morning)... Now this is where I am a bit different than the rank and file... I hate to toot my own horn but.... anyway...
I said... "let's give your bondsman some time to get here and if he has not shown up or called by the time I finish my business, we will take a look at your bond"... she agreed and had a seat.
I finished up and she said she had called him and he had not answered.... well, that sealed it with me.... I wrote the bond... and did not feel the least bit sorry for the bondsman that did not have the courtesy to call or respond to this lady who was sitting with her young child in a hot jail, waiting to get her husband released. Of course this was her side of the deal but I had no reason to disbelieve her... anyway, I just told her that if the bondsman did call her, I would appreciate it if she would simply tell him she had waited over an hour and a half before the other bondsman (me) had said he would write the bond... just so the other guy would know I gave him a fair shot at it.
Now another part of the day............ I was in Walmart, picking up some medicine and when I came out... there was a message (no service in Walmart) missed call from one of my indemnitors.... Here is the main line on this one..... 10K bond, written on an 18 year old female... multiple G Larceny, drug... etc.... due in court for the second time TOMORROW MORNING AT 10 AM... it was 3pm.. this girl was in rehab at a mental hospital in Petersburg which was about 60 miles from me, east... the case was out of Powhatan Circuit court, which was about 55 miles north of me.... and the jail I had bonded her was in Farmville.... 45 miles west of me.... and it was 3pm... Circuit court closed at 4:30pm... do you think the body orifices began to close tightly...............
The mother said the hospital was going to release her to her boyfriend... a druggy... and they were headed for parts unknown and mom said.......... "IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO??????????????"
Now here's a lesson kiddies....... here's how you do it the right way (my way anyway...
I do not ever say... impossible... but frankly, I had my doubts on this one...
I happen to have a bail piece in her folder but her folder was in my office... 20 miles in the other direction... adding to the drama......... I put that little Chrysler Town and Country in the wind.... luckily, I know the cops and they usually do not bother me unless I run over a cow or something.... I got home, gave Gail the meds and put the groceries in the refrig.... picked up the defendants folder and headed out the door... I got on the cell and called the hospital and told them not to release her because she was under bond and I had an arrest warrant which was to be served that day... they put me through to her counselor and she agreed to hold her until 6pm... luckily, I had a code number that allowed me to talk about her case (this is often the case when dealing with mental facilities... remember this... or you may not have access to the info.... get the case code from someone that would know it .... like mom or dad, other wise the facility will not discuss the case with you...).
So that end was sealed, at least for a couple of hours... next, I pulled the file and to my horror... the bail piece, which I had printed online, was not signed....
I called the circuit court and they said they closed at 4:30pm... it was 3:40.... I was very professional and explained my position and the clerk said... "well, we will be here till 5pm... if the door is locked, just knock...!!"... whew.... I put the pedal to the metal and headed for the courthouse.... 45 miles north.... I was sitting in the clerks office at 4:25, she signed the capias and I headed now for Petersburg.... 50 miles east.... I made it the hospital in 38 minutes.... walked in and the lady behind the desk said.... "I think she just left!!!, oh, wait a minute... she is putting here stuff together now..." I was permitted to enter the facility with two sets of hand cuffs and set of shackles... she saw me... coming toward here, dropped her head and said.... "Mr. bondsman... are you gonna take me back to jail..." I was very calm and quiet and said in a low voice.... "yes, <called her by name>, we have to do this so we can get your case taken care of tomorrow..."
Let me expand on her case... this young lady had been diagnosed... schizophrenic and bi-polar... two very unfortunate conditions that when combined (as they often are) can render a person... absolutely nuts... and I had to transport her 70 miles back to jail........ alone.!!
This just get better and better.......................
I will tell you I was dressed as usual in my FULL SWAT GEAR... shorts, polo shirt, white tennis shoes... sunglasses... no gun, no water pistol, no bullet proof vest, no badge, no stun gun, no billy club, no sap... looked like I was going to the country club... that is my 'pickup skips' outfit... (you may want to make a note of this newbies... look professional but do not try to look like a cop... it can backfire on you!!).... cuffs in my pockets... and a smile on my face... I looked her in the face and ask if she wanted to do this.... "easy or hard?" she responded easy.... we walked out to my van, I placed her in the front seat... told her I "had" to put the cuffs on her... actually ask her permission... she complied nicely.. I put the cuffs on and the shackles and the seat belt... I did have an orderly with me till she was cuffed securely... put her belonging in the car... I might mention that her boyfriend was not there yet....... so no problem there... we left.. drove with no problems... delivered her to Piedmont Regional at 7:30pm... she was very cooperative... I did move my gun to the left side of my seat and watched her very closely for the 70 miles or so...................... I spoke quietly, did not try to intimidate or upset her and agreed with most of what she said....
Delivered her inside the sally-port... got my bailpiece signed....
............. went directly to 'Applebees'... ordered a big cool drink (unsweetened tea
), ate a nice meal and went home... case closed. Day over.
My only recap is that if you do things easy and professionally and don't make waves... life usually will flow along nicely... at least, most of the time.... treat people with respect and most of the time it works.
