File photo.
While there is much to be said for well-laid plans, two would-be robbers had their plans foiled when one of them accidentally dialed 911 and dispatchers overheard them planning to rob a BBQ restaurant—where the chief of police just happened to be eating, according to a news report from The Advocate-Messenger.
Police chief Tony Gray of the Danville (KY) police department was inside Brother’s BBQ and Brewing Co. enjoying a meal last Saturday—as two would-be robbery suspects were outside in the parking lot making plans to rob the place.
That is, until one of the suspects accidentally dialed 911 while his phone was in his back pocket in emergency mode. As they continued to make plans for the robbery, police dispatchers were listening in.
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While dispatchers were aware of the suspects’ intentions, they were unsure where the suspects were located, or where they were planning to commit the robbery.
Chief Gray reported that as he was leaving the restaurant, dispatchers notified him that they were listening in on suspects who were planning a robbery: “There was some conversation about when they should do it, they might be recognized if they do it in Danville, and I think they did talk about some different locations …”
Dispatchers then told Chief Gray that they overheard the suspects mention him by name, affirming suspicions that the suspects were planning commit a robbery somewhere in his jurisdiction.
Gray reported that dispatchers were soon able to “triangulate” the location of the call which placed the suspects somewhere in the general vicinity of the Brother’s BBQ.
Dispatchers were then able to pinpoint the call: it was coming from the parking lot of Brother’s BBQ—precisely where Chief Gray and responding officers had unknowingly stepped outside to figure out their own plans to thwart the robbery.
They didn’t have to go very far…
Gray and other officers soon located the suspects sitting inside a vehicle in the parking lot. The line to the accidental 911 call was still open, so officers were able to confirm the suspects were the same ones who were still on the line.
During their check for weapons and further investigation, police found a “ski mask” on one of the suspects. However, both suspects were unarmed.
The two were identified as Robert Bourne and David Grigbsy—who had previously been inside having a beer according to restaurant owner Mike Southerland.
Bourne and Grigsby were charged with public intoxication. And Grigsby was also charged with possession of an open alcohol container in a vehicle and disorderly conduct. Both were later released. Although Chief Gray stated that the prosecutor will listen to the recording of the 911 call to determine any additional charges.
