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Police chief tells gives ultimatum to media during meeting with Cradock residents over increased crime

Posted at 11:52 PM, Sep 15, 2015
and last updated 2015-09-16 14:18:50-04

Portsmouth, Va. - NewsChannel 3 wanted to hear the worries of people who live in Cradock.

They say they've seen a spike in crime this summer.

Interim Police Chief Dennis Mook met with them Tuesday night, but wasn't happy to see us.

And gave an ultimatum either we leave or he would.

We asked him why after the meeting.

“All we were going to do was observe the meeting. How do you have to be prepared for us to observe the meeting?” asked NewsChannel 3’s Brendan Ponton.

“I just don’t like to be blindsided by the media showing up when I don’t know they’re coming

We were invited to the meeting by someone who lives in the area.

We kept asking why Chief Mook had to be prepared for us to sit in on a meeting, “Do you think you're being transparent?"

"Are you Geraldo or what? What’s going on here man? Are you a Fox guy?” Chief Mook replied.

After that, the chief walked away.

We're still not sure exactly what he said inside the meeting.

We went back inside after he left to talk to people who live here.

They say crime has become a problem in this area and they didn't have a problem with us reporting it.

They're trying to take action and stop it by trying to form a neighborhood watch group.