FOX 4 WFTX - Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples News, Weather911 caller: "I want my reward!"
Member Center:
Dispatch: "What's your name?"
Caller: My Name is Johnny Hooker.
Caller: Yes, mama. Write that name done and underline it because I want the reward for this sucker after I catch him".
Dispatch: "OK."
Caller: "I'm going to get him, I'm going to jump the fence and climb right into that field after him."
That was last week when he called the Lee County Sheriff's Office. But Johnny claims when he tried to collect the reward from Crime Stoppers for helping catch suspected murderer Timothy Tuttle. They told him sorry...he was out of luck.
Johnny Hooker: "It wasn't nothing, it was thanks for your tip, we got you, we will take care of you and when it's all over with, it's he should have done this first, he should have done this first, its just a bunch of bull".
Rob: "Is there a gray area and people misunderstood who gets the money?"
Trish Routte: "There isn't a gray area at all. If you call crime stoppers and provide information and that leads to an arrest you will absolutely get the reward and get it quickly."
Hooker didn't call Crime Stoppers. He called the Sheriffs Office instead...so, no dough.
Johnny Hooker: "In my case I didn't have to call Crime Stoppers. I don't have time to call the 1-800 number. I was moving he was running".
Trish Routte: "If he had called Crime Stoppers and that information led to the arrest, I would have made sure he was paid Wednesday before the banks closed. That was not the case he didn't contact us.
A Fox 4 viewer heard the story and took matters into her own hands by digging into her own bank account to do what she felt was right. But she doesn't want credit and wouldn't even let us show her face.
Viewer: "Johnny..thank you for your help."
Johnny Hooker: Thank you darling...I really appreciate it". It's sad that a local citizen had to come through and hand me a 1,000 dollar check when Crime Stoppers couldn't."
Tracey Hooker/ Wife: "It was a blessing, definitely a blessing, definitely needed.
Rob: "What are you going to put it towards?"
Tracey Hooker / Johnny's Wife: "Oh god we are so far in debt right now and trying to fight for our child right now in Texas so it can go for a lot of things...thank you."
