Officer Donald Fouke "The individual I saw that night was a white male adult approximately 35 to 45 years of age, 5'10" tall, 180 to 210 pounds. Since we were looking for a negro male adult, we proceeded on Jackson Street towards Arguello continuing our search. As we arrived at Arguello Street the description of the suspect was changed to a white male adult, and believing this suspect was possibly the one involved in the shooting we entered the Presidio of San Francisco and conducted a search on West Pacific Avenue, the opposite side of the wall and the last direction we observed the suspect going, we did not find the suspect". This is the account of Officer Donald Fouke in the 1989 Crimes of the Century documentary that most people choose to ignore in favor of the account of Officer Donald Fouke in the 2007 documentary, some 18 years later. Notice that Officer Donald Fouke got the updated white male description as he arrived at Arguello. But who initiated the update to a white male? Officer Armond Pelissetti did.
In the 2007 This is the Zodiac Speaking documentary, Officer Armond Pelissetti stated "I was the first officer that responded on the scene. We responded to a radio call which told us that a cab driver was being robbed and/or possibly assaulted at the corner of Cherry and Washington. We fortunately were very close and responded to that corner, and were able to do so red light and siren at 9:55 at night and got there very quickly. I parked the car in the middle of the intersection facing the Yellow Cab, that was sitting a little bit back from the corner. There were three children that were heading over to that car about 15 or 16 feet away. I made the assumption they were coming from the home on the corner and I herded them immediately back to that alcove. The description that came out over the air was a negro male adult at the time. Went over to the cab, I could see Mr. Paul Stine, who was slumped over the front seat with his head into the well on the passenger side. There was blood all over the cab, on him, and I was 99.9% certain he was dead - and it was at that point I retook the description of the suspect and it was then I was told it was a white male - I couldn't get to the radio fast enough at that point to let everybody else know. The kids had told me whoever had done this crime had left the cab, went out the door and seemed to be wiping the cab down and reaching into the cab and ambling or walking down Cherry Street in a northerly direction, kind of towards the Presidio. I walked that way myself, I did not run because there are innumerable alcoves and parked cars, so I went down following every technique I knew so I didn't get my head blown off".
Officer Armond Pelissetti got on the police radio at the crime scene and updated the new description of a white male to all other units. This is when Officer Donald Fouke would have been updated to the new description of a white male adult. At this point Officer Donald Fouke was at Arguello. In other words, Officer Donald Fouke was at Arguello Boulevard while Officer Armond Pelissetti was at the crime scene. They didn't meet directly from the first radio broadcast (APB) that night. Officer Donald Fouke's journey to the intersection of Jackson and Cherry from his position when receiving the first APB, can take no longer than 90 seconds (allowing for intersections). Officer Armond Pelissetti can't possibly reach the top of Cherry in 90 seconds from the first APB. That should be plainly evident. You can see from the map below, that had Officer Donald Fouke turned into Cherry Street instead of carrying on to Arguello Boulevard, he would have received the updated description of a white male at the crime scene, alongside Officer Armond Pelissetti.
In the 2007 This is the Zodiac Speaking documentary, Officer Armond Pelissetti stated "I was the first officer that responded on the scene. We responded to a radio call which told us that a cab driver was being robbed and/or possibly assaulted at the corner of Cherry and Washington. We fortunately were very close and responded to that corner, and were able to do so red light and siren at 9:55 at night and got there very quickly. I parked the car in the middle of the intersection facing the Yellow Cab, that was sitting a little bit back from the corner. There were three children that were heading over to that car about 15 or 16 feet away. I made the assumption they were coming from the home on the corner and I herded them immediately back to that alcove. The description that came out over the air was a negro male adult at the time. Went over to the cab, I could see Mr. Paul Stine, who was slumped over the front seat with his head into the well on the passenger side. There was blood all over the cab, on him, and I was 99.9% certain he was dead - and it was at that point I retook the description of the suspect and it was then I was told it was a white male - I couldn't get to the radio fast enough at that point to let everybody else know. The kids had told me whoever had done this crime had left the cab, went out the door and seemed to be wiping the cab down and reaching into the cab and ambling or walking down Cherry Street in a northerly direction, kind of towards the Presidio. I walked that way myself, I did not run because there are innumerable alcoves and parked cars, so I went down following every technique I knew so I didn't get my head blown off".
Officer Armond Pelissetti got on the police radio at the crime scene and updated the new description of a white male to all other units. This is when Officer Donald Fouke would have been updated to the new description of a white male adult. At this point Officer Donald Fouke was at Arguello. In other words, Officer Donald Fouke was at Arguello Boulevard while Officer Armond Pelissetti was at the crime scene. They didn't meet directly from the first radio broadcast (APB) that night. Officer Donald Fouke's journey to the intersection of Jackson and Cherry from his position when receiving the first APB, can take no longer than 90 seconds (allowing for intersections). Officer Armond Pelissetti can't possibly reach the top of Cherry in 90 seconds from the first APB. That should be plainly evident. You can see from the map below, that had Officer Donald Fouke turned into Cherry Street instead of carrying on to Arguello Boulevard, he would have received the updated description of a white male at the crime scene, alongside Officer Armond Pelissetti.
The overarching question has always been, was the Zodiac Killer stopped and spoken to by Officers Fouke & Zelms that night? If the officers didn't stop the Zodiac Killer, then why didn't they just simply turn south into Cherry and head to the crime scene alongside Officers Pelissetti & Peda? Why did they continue west towards Arguello Boulevard. Consider this possibility.
Officer Donald Fouke is just passing Washington Street on Presidio Avenue when he gets the first APB, informing him of an assault and robbery on a taxicab driver at the intersection of Washington & Cherry. He is given the additional information to be on the lookout for a negro male adult, along with the suspect last seen heading north on Cherry towards Jackson Steet. Therefore, when Officer Donald Fouke is heading towards the crime scene on Jackson Street, he is obviously scanning the sidewalks for a black male. He spots a white man approaching the intersection of Jackson & Maple, so uses his common sense and pulls over to ask the white man "has he seen a black man in the vicinity acting suspiciously". The Zodiac Killer, not wanting the police to head to the crime scene, where he knew he had been spotted by some teenagers, who would obviously inform Officer Fouke that the suspect was a white male, said "yes officer, I have just seen a black man heading round the corner by Arguello. I think he may have a gun". Officer Donald Fouke (knowing other officers would have been dispatched to the crime scene also), had to make a split decision of heading to the assault and robbery - or continuing west on Jackson Street to intercept the black man identified by Zodiac - who is likely the perpetrator in his mind and somebody who presents an imminent danger to public safety, carrying a gun.
Officer Donald Fouke made the correct choice. The one he was clearly describing in the 1989 documentary. Officer Donald Fouke when arriving at Arguello Boulevard, gets the second APB from Officer Armond Pelissetti (who is at the crime scene updating everyone else to the revised white male description). It is at this point the alarm bells go off in Donald Fouke's head - that the white male he just passed 30 seconds earlier, last seen heading north on Maple - has just duped him big time. Knowing he had last seen the white male heading north on Maple, he assumed the man had likely traveled over the retaining wall towards Presidio Park, so he swings his patrol car into West Pacific Avenue and heads east towards Julius Kahn playground. He does a cursory search of the area before heading back to the crime scene via Cherry Street. This diversion into West Pacific Avenue and back likely taking 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. It is then he bumps into Officer Armond Pelissetti, who has now been afforded the necessary time to reach the top of Cherry, which would have been impossible directly from the initial APB.
Officer Donald Fouke is just passing Washington Street on Presidio Avenue when he gets the first APB, informing him of an assault and robbery on a taxicab driver at the intersection of Washington & Cherry. He is given the additional information to be on the lookout for a negro male adult, along with the suspect last seen heading north on Cherry towards Jackson Steet. Therefore, when Officer Donald Fouke is heading towards the crime scene on Jackson Street, he is obviously scanning the sidewalks for a black male. He spots a white man approaching the intersection of Jackson & Maple, so uses his common sense and pulls over to ask the white man "has he seen a black man in the vicinity acting suspiciously". The Zodiac Killer, not wanting the police to head to the crime scene, where he knew he had been spotted by some teenagers, who would obviously inform Officer Fouke that the suspect was a white male, said "yes officer, I have just seen a black man heading round the corner by Arguello. I think he may have a gun". Officer Donald Fouke (knowing other officers would have been dispatched to the crime scene also), had to make a split decision of heading to the assault and robbery - or continuing west on Jackson Street to intercept the black man identified by Zodiac - who is likely the perpetrator in his mind and somebody who presents an imminent danger to public safety, carrying a gun.
Officer Donald Fouke made the correct choice. The one he was clearly describing in the 1989 documentary. Officer Donald Fouke when arriving at Arguello Boulevard, gets the second APB from Officer Armond Pelissetti (who is at the crime scene updating everyone else to the revised white male description). It is at this point the alarm bells go off in Donald Fouke's head - that the white male he just passed 30 seconds earlier, last seen heading north on Maple - has just duped him big time. Knowing he had last seen the white male heading north on Maple, he assumed the man had likely traveled over the retaining wall towards Presidio Park, so he swings his patrol car into West Pacific Avenue and heads east towards Julius Kahn playground. He does a cursory search of the area before heading back to the crime scene via Cherry Street. This diversion into West Pacific Avenue and back likely taking 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. It is then he bumps into Officer Armond Pelissetti, who has now been afforded the necessary time to reach the top of Cherry, which would have been impossible directly from the initial APB.
Officer Donald Fouke made it appear in the 2007 documentary that he got the update to a white male off Armond Pelissetti at the top of Cherry Street. He stated "He (Armond Pelissetti) stopped us and said he was looking for a white male that had just gone down the street. There was a little conversation about what the initial description was, and he said "no he was a white male". I then used a slang term and said "oh, that was the suspect". The suggestion being, that Donald Fouke had cursed after being informed the suspect was white not black. However, in the 1989 documentary he stated "as we arrived at Arguello Street the description of the suspect was changed to a white male adult". This was before he had bumped into Armond Pelissetti that night at Cherry. Two completely different stories.
Let us use the statement of Armond Pelissetti of "we fortunately were very close and responded to that corner, and were able to do so red light and siren at 9:55 at night and got there very quickly". If he responded to the first APB at 9:55 pm, then so did Donald Fouke. It was shown that Donald Fouke could not have taken longer than 90 seconds to arrive at Jackson & Cherry from the first APB (likely less). That would be 9:56:30, where according to the 2007 documentary, he bumped into Officer Pelissetti. That means Officer Pelissetti is at the top of Cherry at 9:56:30 pm. How does Officer Pelissetti possibly arrive at the corner of Jackson & Cherry in 90 seconds, if you have read his complete statement above? This is why the version of events presented in the 2007 documentary is fiction. Officer Donald Fouke did not turn into Cherry on his approach to the crime scene - he headed to Arguello Boulevard, reacted to the updated APB, swung into West Pacific Avenue and traveled to Julius Kahn playground, before heading back to Cherry Street. He then bumped into Officer Armond Pelissetti, already knowing of the updated white male description. Because he had received it via Armond Pelissetti on the radio, approximately 2 to 2 1/2 minutes earlier at Arguello Boulevard.
Let us use the statement of Armond Pelissetti of "we fortunately were very close and responded to that corner, and were able to do so red light and siren at 9:55 at night and got there very quickly". If he responded to the first APB at 9:55 pm, then so did Donald Fouke. It was shown that Donald Fouke could not have taken longer than 90 seconds to arrive at Jackson & Cherry from the first APB (likely less). That would be 9:56:30, where according to the 2007 documentary, he bumped into Officer Pelissetti. That means Officer Pelissetti is at the top of Cherry at 9:56:30 pm. How does Officer Pelissetti possibly arrive at the corner of Jackson & Cherry in 90 seconds, if you have read his complete statement above? This is why the version of events presented in the 2007 documentary is fiction. Officer Donald Fouke did not turn into Cherry on his approach to the crime scene - he headed to Arguello Boulevard, reacted to the updated APB, swung into West Pacific Avenue and traveled to Julius Kahn playground, before heading back to Cherry Street. He then bumped into Officer Armond Pelissetti, already knowing of the updated white male description. Because he had received it via Armond Pelissetti on the radio, approximately 2 to 2 1/2 minutes earlier at Arguello Boulevard.
Michael Butterfield has extensively covered the Zodiac case in a series of excellent podcasts, but it is his coverage of Presidio Heights I would like to delve into.
Michael Butterfield stated "Officer Pelissetti stated he was nearby when he heard the radio call and responded at 9:58 pm. In several interviews with many individuals, including myself, Pelissetti stated he arrived on the scene, saw the body in the cab, then proceeded north on Jackson Street. Officer Fouke said he and Officer Zelms were also nearby when they heard the radio broadcast. Fouke claimed he saw the suspect as he was driving west on Jackson Street. The narrow margin of time leaves little room for the encounter described by the Zodiac. In the Zodiac's version of the story, the patrol car pulled up and one of the officers called him over to ask him if he had seen anyone acting suspicious or strange. The Zodiac responded that he saw a man running and waving a gun. The police officers then sped off around the corner as the killer directed. This exchange must have lasted at least 10 seconds, if not longer. This exchange would be much longer in any scenario where the officers actually climbed out of the patrol car, walked to the killer, talked, ran back to the car, then sped off. The Zodiac himself claimed this exchange took place approximately 3 minutes after he had left the crime scene. A video of the Zodiac's possible escape route, shows that an individual can walk at a slow and casual pace from the intersection of Washington & Cherry Streets to the intersection of Jackson & Maple in less than 3 minutes. One of the witnesses saw Zodiac walk to the intersection of Jackson & Cherry Streets. The witness told Pelissetti that the Zodiac was walking north on Cherry Street, so Pelissetti followed. Pelissetti claimed he encountered Fouke and Zelms by the time he reached Jackson Street. The witness account and Pelissetti's statements leave virtually no time for any significant encounter between Fouke, Zelms and the Zodiac. The timing indicated that the story of the Zodiac stop was not compatible with the known facts, common sense, or logic".
Michael Butterfield provided a less than complete version in this passage, namely that [1] Pelissetti stated he arrived on the scene, saw the body in the cab, then proceeded north on Jackson Street, and [2] The witness told Pelissetti that the Zodiac was walking north on Cherry Street, so Pelissetti followed. Neither of these versions happened, because Pelissetti stated in his own words that he saw the kids about 15 or 16 feet from the taxicab and herded them back to the alcove of their residence. He then stated he went over to the taxicab to check on Paul Stine and was 99.9 % certain he was dead. He then retook the description off the teenagers, before updating everybody else to the updated white male description. He then went back to the intersection to begin his journey up Cherry, "following every technique he knew so he didn't get his head blown off". This now leaves plenty of time for Donald Fouke's encounter with Zodiac, and his excursion to Arguello Boulevard and West Pacific Avenue, before heading back to Cherry to meet with Officer Pelissetti. In Michael Butterfield's version, even if Pelissetti arrived quickly to the crime scene (say 30 seconds), then immediately traveled cautiously up Cherry to meet Donald Fouke, 2 minutes would already have elapsed. How on earth does Donald Fouke require 2 minutes to travel from Washington St/Presidio Avenue to the intersection of Jackson & Cherry. And this is omitting everything Pelissetti claimed he did at the crime scene.
From first APB, Armond Pelissetti requires at least 4 minutes to reach the top of Cherry Street. Donald Fouke requires 4 minutes to head west on Jackson Street, have a brief 10 or 20 second exchange with Zodiac, travel to Arguello Boulevard, West Pacific Avenue and Julius Kahn playground, before returning back to Cherry. From the initial APB to the intersection of Jackson & Cherry for Donald Fouke is no longer than 90 seconds (even with a brief exchange with Zodiac). Donald Fouke then has at least 2 1/2 minutes for a rudimentary search alongside Presidio Park, before his meeting at the top of Cherry with Officer Pelissetti. Michael Butterfield's timeline gives the impression of Officer Pelissetti getting the initial APB, and arriving at the top of Cherry in 90 seconds or less, which is impossible. The claim of "virtually no time for any significant encounter between Fouke, Zelms and the Zodiac" is therefore a false one.
Michael Butterfield stated "Officer Pelissetti stated he was nearby when he heard the radio call and responded at 9:58 pm. In several interviews with many individuals, including myself, Pelissetti stated he arrived on the scene, saw the body in the cab, then proceeded north on Jackson Street. Officer Fouke said he and Officer Zelms were also nearby when they heard the radio broadcast. Fouke claimed he saw the suspect as he was driving west on Jackson Street. The narrow margin of time leaves little room for the encounter described by the Zodiac. In the Zodiac's version of the story, the patrol car pulled up and one of the officers called him over to ask him if he had seen anyone acting suspicious or strange. The Zodiac responded that he saw a man running and waving a gun. The police officers then sped off around the corner as the killer directed. This exchange must have lasted at least 10 seconds, if not longer. This exchange would be much longer in any scenario where the officers actually climbed out of the patrol car, walked to the killer, talked, ran back to the car, then sped off. The Zodiac himself claimed this exchange took place approximately 3 minutes after he had left the crime scene. A video of the Zodiac's possible escape route, shows that an individual can walk at a slow and casual pace from the intersection of Washington & Cherry Streets to the intersection of Jackson & Maple in less than 3 minutes. One of the witnesses saw Zodiac walk to the intersection of Jackson & Cherry Streets. The witness told Pelissetti that the Zodiac was walking north on Cherry Street, so Pelissetti followed. Pelissetti claimed he encountered Fouke and Zelms by the time he reached Jackson Street. The witness account and Pelissetti's statements leave virtually no time for any significant encounter between Fouke, Zelms and the Zodiac. The timing indicated that the story of the Zodiac stop was not compatible with the known facts, common sense, or logic".
Michael Butterfield provided a less than complete version in this passage, namely that [1] Pelissetti stated he arrived on the scene, saw the body in the cab, then proceeded north on Jackson Street, and [2] The witness told Pelissetti that the Zodiac was walking north on Cherry Street, so Pelissetti followed. Neither of these versions happened, because Pelissetti stated in his own words that he saw the kids about 15 or 16 feet from the taxicab and herded them back to the alcove of their residence. He then stated he went over to the taxicab to check on Paul Stine and was 99.9 % certain he was dead. He then retook the description off the teenagers, before updating everybody else to the updated white male description. He then went back to the intersection to begin his journey up Cherry, "following every technique he knew so he didn't get his head blown off". This now leaves plenty of time for Donald Fouke's encounter with Zodiac, and his excursion to Arguello Boulevard and West Pacific Avenue, before heading back to Cherry to meet with Officer Pelissetti. In Michael Butterfield's version, even if Pelissetti arrived quickly to the crime scene (say 30 seconds), then immediately traveled cautiously up Cherry to meet Donald Fouke, 2 minutes would already have elapsed. How on earth does Donald Fouke require 2 minutes to travel from Washington St/Presidio Avenue to the intersection of Jackson & Cherry. And this is omitting everything Pelissetti claimed he did at the crime scene.
From first APB, Armond Pelissetti requires at least 4 minutes to reach the top of Cherry Street. Donald Fouke requires 4 minutes to head west on Jackson Street, have a brief 10 or 20 second exchange with Zodiac, travel to Arguello Boulevard, West Pacific Avenue and Julius Kahn playground, before returning back to Cherry. From the initial APB to the intersection of Jackson & Cherry for Donald Fouke is no longer than 90 seconds (even with a brief exchange with Zodiac). Donald Fouke then has at least 2 1/2 minutes for a rudimentary search alongside Presidio Park, before his meeting at the top of Cherry with Officer Pelissetti. Michael Butterfield's timeline gives the impression of Officer Pelissetti getting the initial APB, and arriving at the top of Cherry in 90 seconds or less, which is impossible. The claim of "virtually no time for any significant encounter between Fouke, Zelms and the Zodiac" is therefore a false one.
In the podcast Shadows & Fog, Michael stated "The crime scene was well preserved and police checked the fingerprints of various individuals who were there that night. Armond Pelissetti, the first responding officer at the scene, stated that he saw the traces of blood on the cab, where the fingerprints were found. More importantly, according to the available timeline of events, the witnesses watched as the killer walked away from the cab, and then watched as Pelissetti and his partner arrived at the scene. Nobody made contact with the cab between the killer's time of departure and Pelissetti's arrival". The podcast then switches to Pelissetti stating he was the "first one to be close to that cab, the kids were walking over to it - nobody else has been there. I saw the bloody prints as I approached the cab".
This is another thing Officer Pelissetti did at the crime scene that night, again negating the version of him parking his patrol car at the intersection of Washington & Cherry and immediately heading north on Cherry. The notion of a narrow margin of time required for Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms to encounter Zodiac is way wide of the mark. The two officers had 4 minutes available to them, before arriving at the top of Cherry to meet Officer Pelissetti. They had plenty of time, to not only talk with Zodiac, but be directed away from the crime scene by him, towards Arguello Boulevard.
This is another thing Officer Pelissetti did at the crime scene that night, again negating the version of him parking his patrol car at the intersection of Washington & Cherry and immediately heading north on Cherry. The notion of a narrow margin of time required for Donald Fouke and Eric Zelms to encounter Zodiac is way wide of the mark. The two officers had 4 minutes available to them, before arriving at the top of Cherry to meet Officer Pelissetti. They had plenty of time, to not only talk with Zodiac, but be directed away from the crime scene by him, towards Arguello Boulevard.
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