| Updated: 10/28/2008 8:42 am |
Published: 10/27/2008 8:06 pm |
Monday night, neighbors in the Heights got a chance to have their safety concerns addressed following last week's deadly attack on KATV anchor Anne Pressly.
The police chief issued a press release Monday afternoon, saying he recognizes that the lack of additional information is frustrating to the media and members of the community. However, Monday night, he answered neighbors' questions as best as he could.
Hundreds of concerned neighbors packed into Burge's in the Heights. Some even had to sit on the floor or stand outside. They came for answers, and that's what they got.
"Just because we're not saying something, and we're not doing a daily press briefing, and we're not giving an hour-by-hour update on what we know right now, does not mean that this investigation is stalled. Does not mean that we're not trying. Does not mean that somebody's not working on it," says Little Rock Police Chief Stuart Thomas.
Despite last week's three homicides, violent crime is actually down in Little Rock more than 27-percent from this same time last year. City officials are sensitive to this case because so many people in the Heights knew Anne Pressly personally.
"Statistics don't mean anything when this happens next door to you. I recognize that. I absolutely recognize that. So that's why we've got to look out for each other," says Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola.
The police chief and mayor suggest taking safety precautions like keeping lights on and locking your car and house at night. With the killer still out there, neighbors not only want to feel safe, they want to see action from the police.
"We may solve it tonight. It may be a while. I just can't tell you when we're going to get it all together," adds Thomas.
One neighbor asked if boosting the reward fund to 50-thousand dollars would help. The police chief said yes. It's currently at about 30-thousand dollars, and tips are coming in from as far away as New Hampshire and Hawaii.
Pressly's family is asking you to give to that fund instead of sending flowers.
