putting together a story from raw data found in an actual police blotter found on pages 124-126 Dr. Thayer has several notes for you on page 124...follow them carefully, and don't accuse anyone of a crime.

notes:

pages 124- 126 are provided to you.

?Avoid using names in the opening paragraph (lede graf) unless well-known. Delay until second graf.

? Use full names on first reference; last names only in second and subsequent references.

. Avoid dramatizing news stories.

? AP Style: spell out numbers below 10 (with a few exceptions like age and address)

? Always be aware you are composing a news story based on what you learn from an official report. Make sure to avoid sounding like you witnessed the event

? Place three hash tags, centered, at end of story to indicate no further reporting forthcoming.

###

Pages 124-126 below

Finding News in the Police Blotter Word limits: Time allotment: Dateline: From the Editor. .. + The following two pages show an actual police occurrence report such as that filled out by police for every call they answer. * Where you see \"date', assume that the specific date is yesterday. The information is all public information, but that does not mean that it can all be published. + Do not name the suspect unless a warrant has been issued for his arrest. |tis necessary to give a witness account, but naming the witness is not advisable either. The news is the burglary, but the connection with the secretary is circumstantial. Be careful how you refer to people who are peripheral to a crime. Do not use police jargon such as \"the subject\Lo 99-30478 POLICE DEPARTMENT Classitied by COMPLAINT AND OFFENSE REPORT RM-IBM No, 1. OFFENSE COMMITTED 2. Date 3. Time 4. Location of Occurrence |5. Shift |8. District Burglary Unkn. 1603 N.Sixt 3 1 7. Division 8. Time Dispatched?9. | Time Arrived Completed {11, Day of Weak [NCIC Code No. Patrol 1520 1526 12. Victim's Name (Firm name if business) Address State Phone Margaret Villareal 1603 N. Sixth 555-0234 13. Victim's Place of Employment Address City State Phone Self-employed Ag above 14. Person reporting Offense Address City State Phone | Sex Race Age Same as #12 F Hisp. |31 15. Personwho discovered crime i Phone |Sex Race Age Same as #12 16. Witness Name Address i E Age Greg Maxwell 1605 N. Sixth Cauc. 27 17. Wiiness Name Addresss f Phone | Sex Race Age DESCRIPTION OF SUSPECTS [ |, WANTED PERSONS| | , MISSING PERSONS| | 18. Name Sex Race Age D.O.B. |Height |Hair Eyes Weight Unkn. M Cauc.|18-20|Unkn. |5'6" |Blk Bx. 140-150 Address City State Alias or Nickname Marks or tattoos | Nationality Complexion Build Warrant No. What Wearing Occupation 19. Name \" Race D.O..B, Height | Hair Eyes [ Weight |omer Address State Alias or Nickname Marks or tatioos Complexion Build Warrant No. What Wearing Occupation VEHICLE USED BY OFFENDERSSUSPECTS_], STOLEN VEHICLE[ | Body Style Color | State Lic. No. W Other Identifying Facts Location towed to Name of Wracker Time 20. Year 21. Impounded 22, SYNOPSIS On {(date) at approximately 1526 hours I arrived at the aforementioned address and contacted the complainant, Margaret Villareal. Ms. Villareal stated that at approximately 1445 hours this date, she arrived home from a client meeting. The house and cffice complex had been broken into. The complainant stated that entry had been gained through a back window. Complainant listed jewelry items and approximately $4,550 in cash as being missing. Ms. Villareal said her sec- retary was off from work this date. Money was taken from a cash box and the office area was vandalized with papers strewn around and drawers emptied. Up- holstered chair slashed with knife. Witness Mr. Maxwell said he saw described individual exiting the building through front door and walking rapidly down Sixth Street. Witness says that subject was carrying plastic shopping bag with something in it. Witness says that he knows complainant and her secretary and that subject being sought appears to be son of office secretary. Subject was seen by witness as being at the location on at least two other occasions. {(CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) StolenO/S Stolen Other Typist Name TSB 23. Reporting Officer 24. Date of Repont John Fuhrman Stolen locally Date Typed Exceptionally 24. Assisting Officer 25. Approving Officer Section 2: Intermediate News Stories * 125 POLICE DEPARTMENT CASENO.99-30478 OFFENSE REPORT SUPPLEMENT Typist Name 1. Offense Burglary 2. Complainant Margaret Villareal 4. Location 1603 N. Sixth St. 3. Address 1603 N. sixth St. 6. RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION {PAGE TWO) Witness Mr. Maxwell states that subject seen leaving the location was seen in the company of a female he thinks is Ms. Villareal's secretary. Ms. Villareal reported secretary's name as Nina Cziernosk and that the subject has a 19-year-old son who has visited office several times. I investigated the area and discovered broken glass at rear of building and trampled grass under window. There was also a fresh cigarette butt in same area. No other signs were discovered in the living quarters or office area. Cash box was locked and was pried open in some manner. The complainant listed the following items as misgsing: 1 necklace, gold chain w/diamond pendant @$1,400 1 gold wrist watch by Seiko @ $450 3 gold rings, each w/precious stones @ %300 ea. 1 Antigue Cameo brocch @ $450 6 pairs of earring, gold, 2 w/diamonds @ 5600 1 Diamond tennis bracelet @s1, 800 Currency $4,550 (approx.) Computer software discs and CD's @ s$500 Ms. Villareal states that she is a graphic and publications designer who works out of her home address and that her secretary was off from work and that said secretary also knew that she (complainant)} would be out of the office from nocn until 3 p.m. She gave name of secretary's son as Alvin Cziernosk. Address of secretary given as 690 Aard Vark Cirele. Son lives with secretary. I interviewed others in area but no other witness was found. Case re- ferred to Detectives. 7. Report Made by Cpl. John Fuhrman 10. Approved by Sgt. 13. CLEARED 8. Time/date 9, Shift # District 3 1 12. Division Patrol 11. Time/date Daniel Kew BY 0 Arrest Unfounded Inactive Writing for Print Media * 126 \"97TTTTTTTTT9T9TTrTTTTTTTTTTNTTTTATTAATA AN