- A teenager voluntarily turns himself into police for his drug addiction. He initially refuses to provide police with the suppliers.
- Season 5 Episode 35 Synopsis - The Big Wish Aired 5-3-56 Friday, Smith are working the day-watch out of Juvenile Division, the boss is Captain Powers, for over a month they have been looking for a narcotics ring supplying juveniles; so far there has not been a break in the case.
A juvenile enters the squad room, he wants to tell the officers something, but needs privacy, they head to an interview room. He asks to be put in jail, his name is John Colter, the reason he asks to be incarcerated is he can't stop using drugs, shooting four times a day. John lives with his mother, father is deceased, got started a couple years ago, through a group of guys, smoking marijuana. Jerry Roath got him started on the hard stuff. He financed his habit by stealing or pushing or both, anything he could move, selling mostly at school. He sold marijuana and heroin, cutting the heroin himself. He admits he was hooked, he tried to stop, he realized he could not quit the stuff.
Smith gets him coffee, Friday gets his mother's phone number at work. The officers escort him to the police doctor's office, where he would be checked out. Friday called for his mother, Nora Colter, who came to HQ. They tell Nora her boy came to them voluntarily, that he is hooked on dope. Nora Colter denies knowing John was on drugs, Friday explains he has been hooked for over a year, that she must have noticed a change in him. She erupts hysterically, says since John's father died, even before, she has been trying to make ends meet. On her feet all day, trying to make a life for herself and her son, she is tired at the end of her day, enough only to crawl into bed at night. Friday says her son showed courage wanting to quit the habit, coming to the police for help. His mother doesn't quite share Friday's encouraging story.
A petition will be filed with the court, he will go before a judge to decide on the treatment. Nora requests to see her son. She jumps emotionally at the sight of him, very negative, blaming him for his actions, knows he has been stealing from her. Friday tries to tell her he is going to be sick, having not had a fix for twelve hours. This will be hard on both of you, Friday tells her, remember he is young, also, he is your son. Friday, Smith talked to Mrs. Colter concerning John. They assured her he would get proper care.
John Colter was placed for three days in General Hospital, going through withdrawal. On the fourth day, he was finally able to take some nourishment. Friday, Smith visit John's bedside in the hospital. He is grateful for their helping him through this. His mother wants to see him. He is reluctant to see her, feeling he will hear the same old refrain out of her. Smith asks him to give the woman a chance; he is willing.
Friday asks for the names of the people giving John the dope. John refuses. Friday's reasoning to give names is they never offered to help him, but the department did everything possible to help you. After Friday's grilling, John is willing to give the names of the suppliers. The names were given to the Narcotics Division, a round-up of pushers was begun immediately. People were brought in for questioning, each unwilling to give the name of the top supplier of narcotics; each was booked under the California Narcotics Act, a felony.
Jerry Roath was arrested, brought before Friday, Smith for questioning. He was uncooperative, he was booked. That afternoon, Roath tried to hang himself in his jail cell. Friday, Smith arrive at the jail, Roath had almost fully recovered, waiting in an interview room. Roath gives the top man's name as Zerne.
Zerne and Roath were convicted under the California Narcotics Act, a felony. Zerne and Roath are now serving their terms in the State Penitentiary, San Quentin, CA. John Colter was made a ward of the juvenile court.
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