Interview Analysis 2
The case is taken from a reality tv show called The First 48, which focuses on detectives trying to solve murders within the critical first 48 hours after the crime. This particular case pertains to a convenience store (Ya Ya Market) robbery in Cleveland, Ohio to which a store clerk, (DeWayne Jacobs, 57 years old) was shot in the head and killed during the robbery. The two suspects fled out of the store and was seen getting into a van on the passenger side in the alley behind the store. Since the two that came out of the store got into the passenger side of the van that would indicate that there are at least three suspects involved in the crime. Detective Tim Entenok and Detective Kathleen Carlin of the Cleveland Police Department are called in to investigate the homicide. Delialah Turner worked at the store and lived above the store.
During the investigation the detectives find that there has been other robberies around that convenience store which resulted in another murder during one of the other robberies. There was a surveillance camera in the store where the detectives were able to get still pictures of the suspects and gave it the news stations to put out on the air. The move paid off because the detectives received an anonymous tip of who one of the suspects was.
The first suspect was identified as 25 year old Steven Mongo. After 6 week of searching for him, police officers were finally able to track him down and bring into homicide so Det. Entenok and Det. Carlin could interrogate him.
Det. Carlin starts off the interrogation by telling the suspect that his name has come up in their investigation. The suspect (Steven Mongo) points at himself and says not me. Det. Carlin tells Steven that he might not be aware but the Ya Ya Market has video surveillance. And then they show him the video. When Det. Entenok shows Steven the video, he ask the suspect who it is on the video. The suspect looks and points at the screen and says, that’s me. They didn’t even have to ask if he was in the video, he pointed himself on the video. Then there was a person that walked up behind him and the detectives asked who that was behind him and he points at the screen again and says, “That’s Darrell. Darrell Coleman”. Det. Carlin says to Steven, “we were told by witnesses that the two people that robbed the store got into a van together”. The suspect denied getting into a van. Then he was placed under arrest and put in handcuffs and taken to the jail for processing and charged with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery. I think the detectives used the direct accusation approach. The suspect already put himself there at the scene of the robbery murder so no further interview techniques were needed.
Detectives now put their focus on the other named suspect, 24 year old, Darrell Coleman. Steven Mongo pointed him out as the shooter in the robbery. When police went to his last known address to execute the murder warrant, Coleman refused to come out and SWAT had to be called in to work on bringing out of the residence just in case there was other people in the house. After 2 hours, Coleman finally gave up and was brought into the homicide division to speak with Det. Entenok and Det. Carlin.
Darrell Coleman starts off the interview with the textbook denial phase. Coleman says, “I don’t even know why I’m in here. I know what homicide means and I have never killed anyone in my life”. Det. Carlin says, “I’m going to ask you flat out were you involved with the robbery at the Ya Ya Market”? This is a direct accusation. Coleman moves his arms in the air and stutters for a second then says, “I don’t know shit”. Det. Carlin says, “You and Mongo”. Then without hesitation Coleman says, “Who”? The detectives show the video of the robbery to Coleman. Det. Entenok says to Coleman, “Thats you”. The only thing Coleman says is, “I never killed anybody in my whole life”. Det. Carlin says to Coleman, “You’re not even talking to me”. Coleman then shows a lot of nonverbal behavior when he responds to her, “I am talking to you ma’am. Look into my eyes (as he uses two fingers to point to his eyes) I’m no killer”.
Det. Carlin notes that Coleman cannot control his temper, anger, or his actions during the interview. Darrell Coleman continued to say, “I never killed anybody a day in my life. That’s the Gods honest truth. I never killed anybody”. The detectives ended the interview and placed Coleman under arrest and charged him with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery.
As the investigation continued the third suspect was identified as 26 year old Damion Peterson. He was believed to be the getaway driver from the robbery. The vehicle was linked back to his girlfriend at the time. Detectives started to interview him and he displayed all kinds of nonverbal cues. Det. Entenok begin the interview by telling Peterson that they are investigating the robbery murder at the Ya Ya Market. Peterson tells them that he heard of the robbery but had nothing to do with it (He went into complete denial phase). Peterson says that he heard about the robbery on the news that was all he knew of it.
Det. Carlin ask him how would his name been brought up in the investigation? Peterson says he doesn’t know. He says he only heard of Steven Mongo and Darrell Coleman but never hung with either of them like that. During the interview he stutters when trying to explain himself. He is very fidgety during the interview. He continues to deny his involvement so the detectives end the interview and place Damion Peterson under arrest and charge him with 2 counts of aggravated murder and multiple robberies. I think this interview was more of a factual approach. The detectives had the evidence to show Peterson and hoping he see that they know he was involved and would confess to his role in the robbery and murder.

References
Kim, John X. (Executive Producer) (2014). Easy Money. [Television series episode]. A&E Television Network The First 48. ITV Studios America.
Zulawski, D.E. & Wicklander, D.E. (2002). Practical aspects of interview and interrogation (2nd Edition). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press