FRONT LINE STORIES
FACES facial composite image technology is being used successfully
by U.S. police agencies in criminal investigations. These
are some examples of FACES front-line stories.
If your
police department has FACES stories you think should be
included in our website please contact
us.
Fresno
Rapist Nabbed through FACES facial composite
In the spring of 2003 the Fresno County Sheriff’s
Department faced a difficult investigation. They had seven
reported incidents of rape involving prostitutes, but the
victims were reluctant to cooperate with police in identifying
the suspect.
Finally, one of the victims agreed to come forward and work
with Detective Jeff Kertson who was using FACES facial composite
technology for the first time in an interview. The composite
they created was distributed to the Sheriff’s and
Police patrol units. Within two days a man was apprehended
and charged with several counts of kidnap and rape.
“FACES was one of the key factors in solving these
crimes,” said Detective Kertson. “We had a general
description of the suspect and car. With the help of FACES
we were able to put a face to the suspect description. This
along with communication between allied agencies was directly
responsible for his arrest.”
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FACES facial composite sketch
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Arrest
warrant photo issued |
FACES
Leads to South Florida Rapist Capture
A 29-year-old suspect was arrested by Broward County,
Florida police shortly after America’s Most Wanted
TV show aired a FACES facial composite sketch.
The
‘South Florida Rapist’ was responsible for the
brutal attack and attempted abductions of a dozen girls
and young women.
Prior
to the Oct. 1998 AMW broadcast, several sketches of the
suspect had been hand-drawn, but provided few clues for
police. Deputy John McMahon of the Broward County Sheriff’s
Office, working closely with young victims, utilized FACES
to compose a picture quality composite of the suspect.
Soon
after the FACES sketch appeared on America’s Most
Wanted, a woman contacted police, saying the portrait was
that of her son. A suspect was arrested within hours, and
charged with sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl and
attempting to abduct 10 other girls in Florida
The
FACES facial composite sketch, along with solid investigative work
from a number of law enforcement agencies – including
the FBI, BCSO, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, North
Lauderdale Department of Public Safety and North Miami Beach
Police Department – helped end the assailant’s
reign of terror.
Composite and photograph of suspect.
Lexington
Armed Robber Nabbed through FACES facial composite
Less
than eight hours after a February 1999 armed robbery, Lexington,
Nebraska police had a picture of the suspect. And 13 hours
later, they had the suspect behind bars.
Police
Investigator Ken Schumacher credits an accurate description
of the robber by the victim and media coverage for the quick
arrest – as well as FACES, a computer software program
police used to create a quick composite picture of the suspect.
It was
that picture that led to the arrest, Schumacher said.
“This
software is really something… It allows us to have
an artist, something that wouldn’t ordinarily have
been available to us,” Schumacher said. With FACES,
law enforcement agencies can develop a high-quality graphic
with unprecedented speed and ease.
After
the early morning robbery in this south central Nebraska
town of 10,000, Schumacher sat down with the store clerk
and quickly put together the composite picture.
Police
released the description and picture and a tip led to a
28-year-old man’s arrest. He was charged with robbery,
use of a weapon to commit a felony and possession of a firearm
by a felon.
Michigan
Police use FACES to Apprehend Suspect in Realtor Attack
A
Monroe, Michigan man was arrested and charged with criminal
sexual conduct after a FACES facial composite sketch generated
a series of public tips.
The
case involved a 23-year-old Livonia realtor who was sexually
assaulted in December 1998 while showing a model home. Canton
township police detectives considered bringing in a skilled
composite artist from the state of Michigan, but opted to
use FACES after being contacted by Michigan’s Most
Wanted and told about the new software.
The
resulting composite was aired on Michigan’s Most Wanted,
Detroit TV stations, and local daily and weekly newspapers.
Tips led to the capture of the suspected rapist, a 37-year-old
male, who was arraigned in February, 1999.
Canton
police say use of the FACES program provided a more accurate
picture of the suspect. “The first time we used FACES
it was on a major case,” said Officer Leonard Schemanski,
“It proved vital to the suspect’s apprehension”.
You
can also view our videos
of FACES in action.
