Dispatch, this is Sheriff Reeves.
I need two units at the Willowbrook Estates Community Center.
Suspect in custody.
Don’t you dare.
Karen screamed, launching herself between me and her son.
You leave him alone.
This is abuse of power.
This is ma’am.
Step back, I said firmly.
You’re interfering with an arrest. I don’t care.
You’re not taking my son.
The community center doors opened and two of my deputies walked in.
I’d had them on standby parked two blocks away just in case things went exactly like this.
Deputy Martinez and Deputy Chen, both professional, both ready.
Deputies, please escort Mrs.
Mitchell away from the suspect I instructed.
Karen fought as they gently but firmly moved her aside.
This is harassment, discrimination.
I’ll have all of your jobs.
Do you know who my family is?
Do you know what connections we have?
Brandon tried to run.
He actually bolted for the side door, but Deputy Martinez was faster.
Within seconds, Brandon was in handcuffs, reading him his rights, while the teenager alternated between cursing and crying.
“You have the right to remain silent,” Martinez began.
“This is so unfair,” Brandon sobbed.
“I didn’t do anything.
It was just a party.
It was just a joke.
Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”
Karen’s meltdown was spectacular.
She collapsed into a chair, then immediately jumped up again, pointing at me with a shaking finger.
I’ll destroy you.
My brother-in-law will sue you into oblivion.
You’ll lose your job, your house, everything.
Your brother-in-law is a tax attorney in Denver, I said calmly.
I checked.
He specializes in corporate tax law.
Criminal defense isn’t exactly his forte.
One of the board members, Gerald Hutchkins, who’d been Karen’s loyal supporter, suddenly stood up.
Karen, I think we need to have a separate board discussion without you present.
Karen whirled on him.
Excuse me.
If what the sheriff is saying is true, if you’ve been misappropriating funds, the board needs to address this immediately.
You spineless coward.
Karen hissed.
I made you.
Without me, you’d be nothing in this community.
You threatened my wife last month, Gerald said quietly.
Told her you’d sight us for violations if I didn’t vote your way on the fence height amendment.
I went along with it because I was scared.
I’m done being scared.
Another board member stood.
She told me she’d make sure my home insurance found out about renovations I’d done without permits if I didn’t support her assessment increases.
