Couple who called 911 to report wanted man told they're ineligible to receive $5k reward
Topics: US News, Money, Crime, True crime, News
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: Fox4
Topics: US News, Money, Crime, True crime, News
A couple has spoken out after being denied a reward payout after calling police and aiding their catching of a suspect.
Crime Stoppers released an image of Leonard Neal onto billboards last week to help authorities track him down.
The 41-year-old was wanted for allegedly abducting a nine-year-old boy and seven-year-old girl, accused of raping the girl too on 11 June.
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On 7 July, Kenyatta and Briana Jordan were on their way back from a lunch in Dallas when they spotted someone who looked like Neal and immediately called the police.
The Jordans recognised Neal from TV, the billboards and social media.
Briana told FOX 4: "He had on the same outfit as one of the pictures circulating on social media."
As well as contacting authorities, the Jordan's also decided to tail the bus Neal got on in their own vehicle.
With six children of their own, Briana notes she thought about how the two children allegedly taken by Neal 'could have been [their] oldest two kids'.
Their call to 911 was disconnected, but the parents were called back by a police officer who checked in with them as they tailed the suspect.
Thankfully, police located the Jordan's minivan and so took over from the couple in tracking Neal.
Neal - who was labelled as a top 10 fugitive in Texas - was then apprehended and arrested by authorities soon after.
The Jordan's say that they weren't aware there was a reward out for any information leading to Neal's arrest until later on.
According to Crime Stoppers USA: "Some Crime Stoppers programs offer cash rewards of up to $1000 to persons providing anonymous information that leads to the felony arrest of criminals and fugitives."
However, when the Jordans asked about a potential reward, they were reportedly told they shouldn't have called 911 but Crime Stoppers instead.
"It feels like we were misled," the pair say, arguing if they'd thought any longer about who to dial and decided to ring Crime Stoppers instead of 911, Neal may not have actually been caught.
Dallas Police Department's website post about Neal also states: "Anyone with information on his location - call 911." Another section says to call 'Crime Stoppers or 911'.
A spokesperson for Crime Stoppers told FOX 4 rewards are 'only paid to people who call the tip line, based on Texas law'.
In a statement to the outlet, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said: "While DPD does not have input on the criteria that must be met for a Crime Stoppers reward, when a unique set of circumstances arises, we certainly can open conversations that will help improve services, prevent crime or help to solve investigations in our city."
The Jordans resolved: "They should be held to their word."
UNILAD has contacted Crime Stoppers for comment.