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CNN NEWSROOM

Dispatcher: "Black Male in a White T-Shirt"; Ebola Patient Arrives in Nebraska; On NPR, Cosby Silent on Rape Allegations

Aired November 15, 2014 - 19:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening, everyone. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Poppy Harlow. Thanks so much for joining me.

This weekend, for the first time, we are hearing the conversations between police and dispatch around the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. This is August 9th, not long after Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed 18-year-old Michael Brown. A St. Louis newspaper has released the sound of the police dispatcher sending Wilson to that neighborhood, telling him there is a report of a shoplifting.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

DISPATCHER: Twenty-five, it's going to be a black male in a white t- shirt. He's running from QuikTrip. He took a whole box of Swisher cigars.

OFFICER 25: Black male, white t-shirt --

DISPATCHER: That's affirmative. She said he just walked out of the door.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

HARLOW: The recording also captures police reacting to the shooting and them calling for backup.

Let's go straight to Sara Sidner, who's live for us this evening in Ferguson.

I know, today, Sara, you talked to the mayor of Ferguson. I wonder what he's saying about the town now, how they're preparing for whatever the grand jury announcement comes down and whichever way it goes.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's interesting. They're doing a lot of things. And we have seen the mayor in and around town, as I've been here for a couple months now.

There are businesses that are boarding up. There are people who are preparing by getting extra food items and water in their house, just worried that if the streets get shut down, or something like that, they will be prepared. It is quite cold right now.

They're also having community meetings, and they were meeting today, trying to figure out how to move forward. So, some forward movement, some positive movement in this town.

But really, they're stalled. And the mayor has said that time and again, that the town is basically on hold, waiting for the decision by the grand jury on whether or not it's going to indict Officer Darren Wilson.

We talked to him about what would happen if there is no indictment, and if the department would rehire him immediately. Here is his answer to that question.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR JAMES KNOWLES, FERGUSON, MISSOURI: This is a criminal investigation that talks about things that rise to the level of criminality. It doesn't mean there may not be something still of concern to address and an internal personnel investigation.

SIDNER: So breaking of policy rules.

KNOWLES: Sure. And so, again, like I said, it's just -- I think it's premature to talk about what the status would be until all of that stuff has been addressed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: And the police chief himself said pretty much the same thing, that there are other things that have to be looked at in order for them to start even thinking about that. But nobody is thinking about that right now with the department. They are all preparing for what might happen when the grand jury announcement of its decision comes down -- Poppy.

HARLOW: And, Sara, you have a better sense of this than us, because you have been on the ground for months. A lot of people are talking about, will there be violence, how will the protesters act, how will the police act either way.

But what are you getting? What is the sense you're getting? Are people learning from past experiences of some of the protests, becoming violent on both sides earlier this fall?

SIDNER: Absolutely. We have watched for 90-plus days every single day, there are protests outside of the police department that go sometimes into town. And what we're seeing is a big difference between how the police are dealing with the protesters. You're not seeing any sort of tear gas or anything like that. You're seeing the police sort of step back, watch what's happening. You're also seeing the protesters listening to police when they say move out of the road or we're going to arrest you.

So, there's a lot of back and forth. And mostly, Poppy, it has been peaceful. There have been times -- what people are worried about -- they're not worried about dozens and dozens of peaceful protesters. They are worried about the few who are going to use this as an excuse to be violent. And that is who this town is worried about -- Poppy.

HARLOW: All right. Sara Sidner, excellent reporting for months throughout this. Thank you so much.

Meantime, this headline just into CNN: Four workers were killed today after a chemical leak at a DuPont plant in La Porte, Texas. A fifth worker exposed, as well. That worker is expected to be all right. The chemical is used in making farm insecticides. Investigators don't know what caused the leak. Apparently, they were trying to fix the leak. The smell left a distinct odor in the air, but officials say it did not pose a risk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, as it left the site and was in the air, it dissipated to an amount where it wasn't hazardous. And, again, there was air monitoring done. And the local emergency response agencies made that decision that there was no health hazard to the community as the odor left the site.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: And at this point, police are not releasing the names of those workers who died. But again, four dead and one injured in all of this.

Meantime, the latest Ebola patient from the United States is being treated at a hospital in Nebraska tonight. The plane carrying Dr. Martin Salia just landed today in Omaha. The surgeon became ill treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone.

CNN's medical analyst Dr. Seema Yasmin told us earlier why he was not being treated closer to his home in Maryland.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. SEEMA YASMIN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: The reason he's being treated in Nebraska is because those doctors and health care workers in Maryland at the NIH Center, they're still under their 21-day watch period, because they so recently cared for a nurse with Ebola who was from Dallas. And so, that's why the patient is being taken to Nebraska.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: And on Twitter this week, a caption contest and renewed rape allegations have put comedian Bill Cosby back in the headlines. The well-known comedian has been asked to answer sexual assault allegations, some from a decade ago.

Our Alexandra Field has more now on Cosby's latest interview and how it's raising eyebrows.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Poppy, Bill Cosby was set to appear on "The Late Show with David Letterman" later this week, but that appearance was suddenly cancelled without explanation. At the end of last month, Cosby was also scheduled to appear on Queen Latifah's show. That appearance was also cancelled.

But Cosby did do an interview with NPR's Scott Simon. It was taped a couple of days ago. The focus of the interview was mostly about Cosby's art collection. But when Simon asked Cosby about the resurfacing of these old sexual assault allegations, the comedian had literally no words.

(voice-over): For years, allegations of rape have plagued Bill Cosby. And given the chance to address them, he said nothing and a lot is being said about that. From Twitter, "Cosby was on NPR with Camille to not talk about those rape allegations." And, "Bill Cosby's refusal to answer revealed more than any words could. Still painful to watch a corner bully cower."

Those tweets in response to this interview with NPR's Scott Simon.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

SCOTT SIMON, NPR: This question gives me no pleasure, Mr. Cosby. But there have been serious allegations raised about you in recent days. You're shaking your head no.

I'm in the news business. I have to ask the question. Do you have any response to those charges?

Shaking your head no.

There are people who love you who might like to hear from you about this. I want to give you the chance. All right.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

FIELD: Simon promoted the interview on Twitter, saying he asked about rape charges. Listen and decide if he says yes or no. After the interview, Simon tweeted, "I hated to have to ask about charges in front of Mrs. Cosby." One listener responds, "Leave Bill Cosby alone." Another says, "I know there might be legal ramifications if he speaks out, but being silent sure makes you look guilty."

The Internet lit up with attacks on Cosby earlier this week after the comedian invited followers to meme him or caption classic pictures. Here's some of the responses.

My two favorite things, "Jell-o pudding and rape." "Look at this wacky shirt I'm wearing." Also, "I'm a serial rapist."

Cosby has never been charged with a crime. His lawyers have repeatedly denied allegations made years ago when several women came forward claiming they had been sexually assaulted by Cosby.

Among them, Barbara Bowman.

BARBARA BOWMAN, ACCUSING COSBY OF RAPE: After going to my agent and going to the lawyer and getting smacked down both times, I just said, let me just get on with my life, move on with my life, and let it go. FIELD: Bowman believes Cosby's silence says it all. "A simple shake

of his head is implication of a man whose heart is heavily burdened with shame."

(on camera): And Barbara Bowman says she took her claims to an attorney back in 1989 but she was laughed out of his office. The statute of limitations on the alleged crime has long since expired, but bowman decided to speak up in 2005 when another alleged victim filed a lawsuit against Cosby -- Poppy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Alexandra Field with this story for us. Thank you so much.

And coming up on CNN's "NEW DAY" tomorrow morning, the NPR host who interviewed Bill Cosby, you just heard that interview, and asked him to respond to those sexual assault allegations, he will be on the program tomorrow morning 8:00 a.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

Still ahead this hour, an American woman jailed in a foreign country for something she says she had no involvement in. CNN got exclusive access to talk to her and her lawyer. See what you think, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: An American woman is seeking her freedom for two months after being arrested in the Southeast Asian country of East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste.

Our Susan Candiotti was given exclusive access to the detained veterinarian from Oregon, whose arrest was sparked what should have been a simple taxi ride.

Here's the report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's the first glimpse of Stacey Addison on video since she was jailed and strip-searched in a woman's prison in Timor-Leste near Indonesia. Her hair now cut, thanks to prison rules.

DR. JOSE RAMOS-HORTA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF EAST TIMOR: She is depressed. For someone like her coming from Oregon, on backpacking around the world, to find herself in a prison, cannot expect her to be not depressed.

CANDIOTTI: CNN was granted exclusive access to the Oregon veterinarian, but no interview allowed. She is meeting with her lawyer, and to her left, Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta, he's the former president of Timor-Leste, who offered to help.

Addison's world travel adventure interrupted, she says, when police surrounded a taxi she was sharing with a stranger. Addison's lawyer says the Indonesian man had stopped to pick up a package that turned out to have drugs. Adding Addison was a victim of circumstance. RAMOS-HORTA: My instinct is that she is completely innocent, stopped

accidentally. Wrong place, wrong time, with a crook from Indonesia.

CANDIOTTI: The package reportedly contained methamphetamines, allegedly hidden inside shower equipment.

BERNADETTE KERO, MOTHER: She sounds like she's getting more discouraged.

CANDIOTTI: With the help of the U.S. embassy, Stacey's latest letter to her mother describes good treatment, but also nightmares.

KERO: Every night, I have nightmares, and wake up around 3:00 a.m.

CANDIOTTI: "I'm not sure if the nightmares at night or my waking nightmares are worse," Addison writes. "I cannot believe this is happening." U.S. officials meet weekly with Addison, and remain in contact with officials, who say Addison is being held as a witness in a criminal case.

JEN PSAKI, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN: There are questions as to whether there's any evidence linking her to these allegations, and we have requested that the legal process be expedited.

CANDIOTTI: This week, expats meeting in Timor-Leste to see what they can do to lend a hand to the 41-year-old veterinarian who quit her job to see the world and apparently got more than she bargained for.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Susan, thanks so much for that report.

And coming up, next time you're at the gas pump, think about this -- thieves using stolen credit cards, pumping gas, and then selling it. We'll take you inside the criminal investigation to show you exactly how this works, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Well, it is a complex and criminal way that thieves are getting cash from your stolen credit card numbers. They're stealing, then stealing huge amounts of gasoline right from the pump. And then they're selling it. They use these specially outfitted vehicles, advance vans and trucks that look normal from the outside but inside, they're nothing more than a giant rolling gas tank.

Over the past year, CNN was given extraordinary access to an investigation in progress, watching the crime go down, and witnessing the bust of one of the big rings in Georgia.

Here is senior investigative correspondent Drew Griffin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Poppy, this is one of those stories that's going to have you thinking twice and even looking around. The next time you pump gas.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to pull up. Go straight up.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): What you are looking at is gas being stolen. Police say it's paid for with stolen credit cards and pumped into gas tank like you've never seen before.

BERT ROSS, LILBURN, GEORGIA POLICE DETECTIVE: That's the van. There is a stain on the side of the van, he's been seen before. They use a multiple of, you know, six or seven different credit cards in one day.

GRIFFIN: For the past year and a half, Lilburn, Georgia police detective, Bert Ross, has been tracking a ring gas thieves.

It's a scheme called pump and dump. Across the country, these turn stolen credit card numbers into cash by stealing then reselling hundreds of gallons of gas at a time at a discount to truckers and unscrupulous gas station owners. And they key centers around these specially-equipped rigs.

STEVE SCARINCE, SECRET SERVICE AGENT: From the outside, this looks a stereotypical excursion that you'd see everyday on the road. But this thing is been completely retrofitted with siphoning systems and an internal secreted (ph) fuel bladder in the back of the truck here.

GRIFFIN: Secret Service agent Steve Scarince, who supervises the Los Angeles Fraud Task Force has been tracking the scam nationally. He says hidden compartments can hold up to 300 gallons of fuel. It's transferred then sent right back into the system.

SCARINCE: It looks like -- yes. It looks like a very legitimate delivery because this, what, delivers normal gas, not stolen. So you wouldn't think twice about this particular truck being in a lot offloading fuel.

GRIFFIN (on camera): So you got two ends of this deal. One guy is stealing the gas, the other guys is knowingly buying stolen gas.

SCARINGE: Correct.

GRIFFIN: And that's the scheme, and they're making a lot of money.

SCARINGE: Millions. Millions and millions of dollars.

With six trucks. Let's say six truck with a 600 gallon tank, they fill it twice a day, six days a week. Gross profit is close to probably $10 million.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): The ring being watched by Lilburn police detective Bert Ross is working their scheme just outside Atlanta. Here in a suburban gas station, we watched as the suspect with the white van uses one stolen credit card after another to pay for diesel fuel. ROSS: Well, this is definitely one of our primary guys.

GRIFFIN: During his 17 minutes at the pump, the suspect uses two stolen credit cards, four separate transactions, totaling $349 dollars to pay for 95 gallons of diesel fuel. Thieves either steal credit card information or buy stolen credit card numbers online, then make the cards themselves with machines like this, also easily bought online.

Back at police headquarters, Ross watches the suspected ring leader use stolen credit cards at a gas station as a hidden camera watches.

ROSS: This is our primary suspect driving his vehicle into the gas station, and pumping diesel into the vehicle which we suspect has a bladder in the back. He has no idea and he's, you know, he doesn't seem to care too much about the fact that that's what he's doing. To the rest of the world, he's just another person pumping gas into his car.

GRIFFIN: The surveillance video shows the suspect coming back day after day and week after week. Detective Ross follows other suspected members of the same ring.

ROSS: He's moving? OK. Which way is he going? He's obviously looking around. He's a little suspicious but he sees nothing around to worry about. He continues on.

GRIFFIN: The suspicious trucks keep active.

ROSS: I want to turn back around because I want to take some pictures of that vehicle. We don't want to make him too suspicious. There's -- one of the suspect's right there, he's outside. There's a van -- a white van that's back there.

GRIFFIN: It's sophisticated, organized crime. And according to the Secret Service, everyone involved knows this is illegal.

(on camera): And there's no doubt that the "bad" gas station owners know they're getting stolen gas.

ROSS: Absolutely.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): Crooked gas stations buy the fuel for roughly a dollar a gallon. Truckers in on the scheme in Georgia get a deep discount.

ROSS: They're getting the card itself or getting embossed, stolen credit cards to buy diesel fuel. They're transporting that fuel all around the state, sometimes outside of the state, and they're meeting with truckers, semi-truck drivers, and they're selling the fuel for about half the price.

On Monday, October 27th, at 5:00 a.m., operation members let's cue (ph) the search and arrest warrants.

GRIFFIN: Eighteen months after Detective Ross was tipped off that this ring working in his area, the criminals are about to get an early wake up call.

ROSS. These are our primary suspects.

GRIFFIN: Seventy-five law enforcement officers span out before sunrise. And hit seven locations, including the ring leader's home.

Jorge Garcia Ramirez is identified as the boss. Inside his house, police say, is evidence of stolen credit cards and a fulltime operation. He's the suspect caught on camera at the gas station.

ROSS: This time, we suspect that there's some evidence at this location that they may be manufacturing the con cards.

GRIFFIN: Ramirez has not yet entered a plea to fraud and identity theft.

And the suspect we saw pumping gas into the white van, police are looking for him.

Also, confiscated, what Detective Ross says, are the vehicles used to pump and dump the gas, customized hidden containers. This L-shaped box can hold up to 113 gallons.

(on camera): Any idea how much money is involved here?

ROSS: A lot. But they operate five, six days a week every week, all year long, committing these crimes and it's up until now, where they finally had to pay for what they've done.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): But busting this one ring took 18 months. There's no telling how many is still operate across the country, stealing credit card numbers to pump and dump gas.

(on camera): Poppy, Ramirez and the others could get nearly 18 years on identity theft and fraud charges. Detective Ross says he's even going to try to add racketeering and organized crime charges, which could bring even more substantial charges for each of these counts.

But the fact of the matter is, so much money is being made, even these heavy penalties aren't enough to stop these criminals.

Back to you, Poppy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Wow. Had no idea that was happening. Drew, thank you. Fascinating report.

We'll be back. Just a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Well, President Obama took on China and Russia in remarks today, calling on bigger nations not to bully smaller ones. Those remarks widely interpreted as a reference to China's territorial disputes with its smaller neighbors and Russia's annexation of Crimea. And in an adorable or odd moment, depending how you look at it, the

world leaders got a chance to cuddle with koalas. I don't know that koala looks a bit nervous there.

Sunday marks the final day of the president's trip there. He is expected to hold a news conference before leaving Australia. A few moments with koalas at the G-20.

All right. That does it for me this evening. Thanks so much for joining us. Stay with CNN and CNN.com for breaking news all of the time. I'm Poppy Harlow. I'll see you back here tomorrow evening, but there is much more ahead tonight, including this.