When Collins arrived on Maple Street, the first thing he saw was Kendrick walking with the two bicycles. He got out of his cruiser with one hand resting near his service weapon.
"Drop the bikes. Put your hands where I can see them. Now."
Kendrick stopped. Confusion crossed his face. "What? What did I do wrong?"
Collins stepped closer. "I said drop the bikes and put your hands up. I just got a report of a Black male with two stolen bikes. You match the description, so I'm not asking again. Drop them."
Kendrick's heart began pounding. "Officer, I didn't steal anything. I'm returning this bike to its owner. The real thief ran away. If you just let me explain—"
Collins cut him off. "Nice story. I'm sure you're the thief."
"No, you're making a mistake," Kendrick said. "Find the boy who was robbed. He'll tell you I'm telling the truth."
Collins ignored the request and pulled out his handcuffs. "You're under arrest."
Kendrick took a small step backward. "I'm not a thief. I was trying to help."
By then, several neighbors had begun stepping out of their houses. Some held phones up and recorded. Others simply watched. A few nodded as if the presence of an officer confirmed what they had already decided about the teenager with two bikes.
Melissa Adams came out of her house and walked toward Collins with an expression of satisfaction. She had made the call, and now she wanted everyone to know it.
"Officer, don't believe him," she said loudly enough for the crowd to hear. "People like that always have an excuse. I don't even know him. He probably doesn't even live in this neighborhood."
She pointed at the bicycles. "He didn't just steal one. He's got two. He should be taken in."
Kendrick looked at her, then at Collins. His voice shook with frustration and fear. "I'm not a thief. One bike is mine. The other belongs to a boy who was being robbed. I chased the guy who took it. I was bringing the bike back."
He gave Collins his address. "I live a few blocks away, 1847 Oakridge Lane. You can verify it. Please."
Melissa interrupted again, insisting he was lying. Collins looked at Kendrick, then at Melissa, and made his decision without checking the address, locating the child victim, or asking whether anyone nearby had seen what happened before the 911 call.