About that driver...

One thing I've always hated as a reporter is knowing something that I can't tell readers about.
Today, it seems, I'm cursed with that problem.
With a little help from a friend who doesn't work for the city, I learned who was driving the truck that struck and killed 14-year-old Henry Waye last week. Some records I looked at today made me feel quite comfortable that I'm looking at the right guy.
I knocked on doors, but the only two people I spoke with who live near him told me they didn't know anything. One of them was probably telling me the truth. The other, well, I can understand the reluctance to get involved.
So I went to the police department, hoping to get the name confirmed.
No dice.
Lt. Edward Spyros, who handles most public information for the police, said the investigation is onoing so he can't say anything at all, not even a hint. Not even the teensiest little hint of a hint. Nothing.
His argument is that the police don't want to risk naming a suspect who turns out to be innocent, like U.S. Rep Gary Condit, who had an affair with a young woman in Washington some years ago and got dragged through the mud after she was found murdered. His career went down the drain but he was innocent, or at least innocent of the crime.
But, of course, I'm not asking the police to tell me that the driver was guilty of anything. I'm only asking them to confirm that he was the owner of the white Chevrolet pickup truck impounded on Friday and that he was behind the wheel when the accident occurred.
I suppose that would make him guilty of leaving the scene of an accident and maybe failing to stay in his lane, but the serious charges we can all imagine? They may or may not be justified after an investigation is over.
Providing names of drivers is the sort of thing the police routinely tell us after every accident. Except this one.
So why I don't I just say who the driver was? Because in my business, unlike blogging in general, we have to confirm facts. At this point, I have no confirmation, only a name and a strong circumstantial case. That's not enough. I need a police officer or a neighbor or, even better, multiple officers and neighbors, to tell me that, yes, that's the guy.
Until then, I'm as mum as the police on this one, which is frustrating.
I will say, though, that I'm pretty confident that the person's identity is not being kept hidden because he knows someone. It's just the secretive nature of authority at work here.
Meanwhile, I'll keep pounding the pavement and asking questions until I can write the story. That's what we do, though I truly don't like having to do it on stories involving the police. I prefer politics, where the stakes are at least as high but almost everyone is eager to get in print.
I will say, though, that if anyone out there can confirm the driver's name, feel free to give me a call or drop me an email at scollins@bristolpress.com.

Update: Thanks for all the anonymous messages with the man's name and address. I already knew that. What I need is for someone who knows for sure this is correct to tell me directly, even if you don't want your name used in any story.

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Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com