Things went south when the squad tried to protect an informant’s family, leading to one Organized Crime regular being shot, and Stabler’s suspension.
The latest episode of Law & Order: Organized Crime had an explosive ending in which one member of the show’s featured task force ended up shot, and another, suspended.
Season 4, Episode 4, began with assistant district attorney Dominick “Sonny” Carisi Jr. (Peter Scanavino) talking to Det. Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) about the “bossman” of a fentanyl lab run by the Los Santos gang.
“The fentanyl lab bust was a big get for OC but if you want me to build a case against the entire Los Santos operation, I need more,” Carisi told Stabler. “I need a witness, high-level, willing to play let’s make a deal, ya know?”
Stabler told Carisi that during the lab bust, the “bossman” died of fentanyl exposure before he could ask him to testify, and that “word is that his brother Carlo has taken over the operation.”
The detective added that he was working on getting the late gang leader’s widow, Bryanna Pescador (Natalie Ceballos), to talk, but that may be hard to do considering that Carlo is “known for his torture techniques … so, needless to say, he’s got the widow scared silent.”
Sonny Carisi (Peter Scanavino), Ayanna Bell (Danielle Moné Truitt), and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) appear in Season 4 Episode 4 of Law & Order: Organized Crime
But Stabler got a call from Bryanna while he was still chatting with Carisi, saying she’s willing to testify if the detective promises to keep her family safe.
There is one problem that will come back to haunt Stabler though: When the detective’s cover was blown during the drug lab bust in an earlier episode, and he was under attack, the detective smeared the bossman’s face in fentanyl dust, leading to his death.
In Episode 4, viewers are introduced to Carlo as he’s sitting in an eatery with his niece (Bryanna’s daughter), having gifted her a fancy coat just before Bryanna walked in. Bryanna appeared weary of her daughter’s close relationship with her uncle.
The Organized Crime Control Bureau sets out to protect their informant’s family
After Stabler got the call from Bryanna saying she was willing to testify against Los Santos, the team set up camp at the informant’s house to guard her family until the morning, when she and her two children were to be sent into witness protection.
Her son, Lucas, and daughter, Kiki, seemed to have opposite reactions to the news. Lucas didn’t seem to mind the idea of being relocated and told Stabler that he knew his father — whom the teen claimed hated him — was a criminal. But Kiki was furious at the detectives being in her home and at having to leave everything she knew behind, telling them, “If my dad were alive, he’d peel your face off and put it on a soccer ball.”
Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Sergeant Ayanna Bell (Danielle Moné Truitt) appear in Season 4 Episode 4 of Law & Order: Organized Crime
Stabler is asked to leave the informant’s home by Carisi
While Stabler initially came to Bryanna’s house to help in the efforts to protect her family, he was soon sent away. Carisi showed up at house, asking Stabler what he’s doing there.
“What do you mean, what am I doing here? It’s my case,” Stabler shot back.
Carisi responded: “Yeah, that’s exactly why you can’t be here right now. You were undercover with Los Santos, you played a role in their father’s death. You shouldn’t be anywhere near this family.”
Stabler pointed out that Bryanna was the one who called him, claiming she trusts him.
But, Carisi said, “It compromises the case.”
Stabler’s boss, Sergeant Ayanna Bell (Danielle Moné Truitt), ultimately agreed with Carisi, saying, “Eliott, I have to agree. If the ADA doesn’t want you here, you cannot be here.”
She added, “This case has to be unimpeachable.”
As Stabler walked out of the house, the informant’s daughter was shown on the second floor looking down, and distraught, apparently having heard the whole conversation about how the detective played a role in her dad’s death.
Though the organized crime crew took all phones and devices from the family when they arrived, Kiki — apparently using a burner phone that Carlo gave her — texted her uncle that she hated her mom and that she’s being taken to D.C. in the morning. Carlo wrote back that he’s going to take care of things.
Now armed with the knowledge that his sister-in-law turned on Los Santos, Carlo sent his men to the home.
Stabler, still at home during his squad’s shoot-out with Carlo’s men, eventually got wind that something was wrong and returned to Bryanna’s house.
Sergeant Ayanna Bell (Danielle Moné Truitt) appears in Season 4 Episode 4 of Law & Order: Organized Crime
Informant’s son turns on the organized crime squad
Just when the detectives thought they were in the clear, Lucas — coming down the stairs — yelled, “This is for papi!” and fired. Stabler moved out of the way and grabbed the gun. Lucas, tackled to the floor by Stabler, was seen bleeding from the head, and Bell informed the team that she’d been shot in the abdomen.
Both Bell, who lost a lot of blood after being shot, and the boy, were taken to the hospital, and it seemed like they were both going to make it.
At the hospital, Stabler informed Captain Nazanin Shah, commanding officer of the Hate Crimes Division, that Bryanna and her daughter made it into witness protection.
“Speaking of which, I’ll need your gun and shield,” Shah told Stabler. “You assaulted a minor.”
Stabler was told he’s suspended, pending an investigation after throwing the boy to the floor.
