One Arrest

"One Arrest" is the seventh episode of the first season of the HBO original series, The Wire (2002-2008). The episode was written by Rafael Alvarez from a story by David Simon & Ed Burns and was directed by Joe Chappelle. It originally aired on July 14, 2002.

Plot summary

The police

The Barksdale detail discuss the information they have garnered from their cloned pagers and wiretap, with Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski showing a surprising gift for decrypting messages. They have identified a resupply with a specific time. Detectives Herc, Ellis Carver, Leander Sydnor and Kima Greggs make a labored arrest of the package carrier, but let Stinkum (the driver) get away so as to not compromise the wiretap. Stinkum pages Stringer Bell from outside the towers and Sydnor rushes over to photograph him as the call is returned, so they can legally monitor the phone call. In interrogation, Prez recognizes the carrier as Kevin Johnston, the boy he blinded in one eye in Episode 2. Lieutenant Daniels appeals to Johnston to contact him if he ever wants to change his life; Johnston mocks his offer.