Courtesy Photo | Iraqi soldiers search suspects at a muffler shop in Mosul, Iraq. The men are suspected...... read more read more
Story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class David P. Benamati
138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
MOSUL, Iraq (Jan. 16, 2006) -- Days following the downing of a U.S. Army OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter by a group of insurgents, Soldiers from Companies A and C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and the Iraqi Police took to the streets in one of the most dangerous parts of the city of Mosul. They are tracking down those responsible after receiving an anonymous tip from local Iraqi civilians.
In a run down muffler shop, suspected of being a Vehicle Bourne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) factory, the police apprehend suspects they hope will lead them to the killers. The men in question stand facing a wall as the police search them for identification papers and ask questions while some of the Iraqi Army Soldiers and American Soldiers provide security. Other Soldiers search the shop, rummaging through the office papers and desk drawers for evidence or clues.
The tension is high, everyone is anxious to find the insurgents and bring them to justice. Stryker vehicles and up armored Humvees cordon the area with guns pointed outward to provide security around the muffler shop. Two U.S. Army OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters circle overhead to provide over watch security.
After an intense search, the Iraqi police decide that they have identified four men as suspects and take them into custody. The four men are zip cuffed, blindfolded with rags taken from the shop, and placed into the cargo area of the Iraqi Army vehicles; small commercial pickup trucks modified with gun mounts. The men ride in the back of the pickups to a local Iraqi Army compound for further questioning.
Once inside the walled compound, the Iraqi Army Soldiers gingerly take their prisoners into the main building, again hoping to obtain useful information. The other Iraqi Policemen and Soldiers dismount their vehicles; again to provide security for the compound from possible reprisals.
Everyone, including Capt. Kent Park, commander of Co. C, 2nd Bn, 1st Inf. Rgt., 172nd SBCT is anxious to hear the outcome of the questioning. Capt. Park's company was tasked to take the lead in assisting the Iraqi Police in finding the killers. Capt. Park takes his job seriously; his fellow Soldiers were killed in the crash.
Two hours later, the Iraqi Policemen emerge from the building. The police tell Capt. Park that the prisoners refuse to give any information. The Iraqi Policemen say they are going to take the prisoners to the local police station for the night. That is not what Capt. Park wanted to hear. Now he and his company will have to wait another day to find the killer they sought.
With no further information and the uncooperative prisoners still in custody, the Soldiers of Co. A and Co. C decide to call it a day for now and head back to FOB Courage. Over the radio, the information is passed onto the two OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters; they cease circling overhead, and return to base.
| Date Taken: | 02.01.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 02.01.2006 14:57 |
| Story ID: | 5276 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 299 |
| Downloads: | 103 |
This work, Searching for a Killer, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
