Posted on 04/13/2006 3:21:02 PM PDT by ghost of nixon
DURHAM, N.C. -- A woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by members of Duke University's lacrosse team was described as "just passed-out drunk" by one of the first police officers to see her, according to a recording of radio traffic released by Durham police on Thursday and obtained by The Associated Press.
The conversation between the officer and a police dispatcher took place about 1:30 a.m. March 14, about five minutes after a grocery store security guard called 911 to report a woman in the parking lot who would not get out of someone else's car.
The officer gave the dispatcher the police code for an intoxicated person and said the woman was unconscious. When asked whether she needed medical help, the officer said: "She's breathing and appears to be fine. She's not in distress. She's just passed-out drunk."
The black woman, a 27-year-old dancer and college student, told police she was sexually assaulted and beaten by three white men around midnight at an off-campus party thrown by Duke's lacrosse team. The racially charged allegations have led Duke to cancel the highly ranked team's season and accept the resignation of its coach.
No charges have been filed, but district attorney Mike Nifong has said he believes a crime was committed. Attorneys for the players have said DNA tests failed to connect any players to the alleged attack, and they have urged Nifong to drop his investigation.
The radio recordings, obtained by the AP through a records request, are the first instance in which police or anyone connected with the investigation has said the woman appeared to be intoxicated.
Defense lawyers, however, have said time-stamped photographs taken by the players show that the accuser was drunk and had already suffered some injuries when she arrived at the house for the party.
The recording is consistent with "what I have seen of the photo evidence before," attorney Kerry Sutton said. Those photos, she said, showed that she was "way beyond where you would put somebody behind the wheel of a car."
The description of the woman's medical exam -- which Nifong has said is his basis for believing a rape occurred -- does not mention her being drunk. It states only that the woman's injuries and behavior were consistent with having been raped, sexually assaulted and having suffered a traumatic experience.
The woman has told police she and another dancer hired to dance at the party arrived at 11:30 p.m. March 13. The pair reportedly left the house a short time later, fearing for their safety. The accuser told police the two were coaxed back into the house with an apology, at which point they were separated. That's when she said she was dragged into a bathroom and sexually assaulted, beaten and choked for a half-hour.
At 12:53 a.m., police received a 911 call from a woman complaining that she had been called racial slurs by white men gathered outside the home where the party took place.
The defense has said it believes the second dancer at the party made that call. The 911 call from the grocery store security guard was placed at 1:22 a.m.
In it, the caller says, "Um, the problem is ... it's a lady in somebody else's car and she will not get out of their car. She's like, she's like intoxicated, drunk or something. She's, I mean, she won't get out of the car, period."
A police spokeswoman did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the radio traffic.
The case has focused intense national scrutiny on Duke and the lacrosse players and has sparked protests on the elite private university's campus and elsewhere in Durham. The school last week canceled the highly ranked team's season and coach Mike Pressler resigned after the release of a vulgar and graphic e-mail sent by a team member shortly after the alleged assault.
Several of the defense attorneys say they expect the district attorney to ask a grand jury on Monday to issue charges in connection with allegations.
"Rest up on Sunday," Sutton said.
There has been no official word, however, on whether Nifong intends to present the allegations Monday. His next opportunity would come two weeks later.
Had you not heard that song?
Hmm...Interestin' indeed!
Hey, if you want to get on the internet and spend hours and hours researching the stats, knock yourself out. I'm not going to do it for you.
I wonder if this stripper is named Tawana Brawley?
I just saw on ESPN that the NCAA has given all the incoming kids who have signed letters of intent to play LaCross at Duke are now released of their obligation. So this lying skank has now destroyed the team for years to come. If it is proven that she is lying, she should be forced to pay restitution for all the financial damages she has caused.
Was not always the case. Many, many years ago, some of the hits and unsportmanlike tackles in soccer were brutal. FIFA has done much over the years to clean up the bad fouls.
I remember watching some of the World Cup matches in 1966 when my dad was stationed in England. The superstars were getting mugged on a regular basis in every game and few red cards were issued. Some of those tackles would get a player tossed and suspended theses days.
The left-half for England was Nobby Stiles. Very few skills but a very physical defender.
He wondered how she'd take it when he said goodbye.
Thought she might do some cryin': lose some sleep at night.
But he had no idea, when he hit the road,
That without him in her life, she'd let herself go.
Let herself go on a singles cruise,
To Vegas once, then to Honolulu.
Let herself go to New York City:
A week at the Spa; came back knocked-out pretty.
When he said he didn't love her no more,
She let herself go.
She poured her heart an' soul into their three-bedroom ranch.
Spent her days raisin' babies, ironin' his pants.
Came home one day from the grocery store and found his note,
And without him there to stop her, she let herself go.
Let herself go on her first blind-date:
Had the time of her life with some friends at the lake.
Let herself go, buy a brand new car,
Drove down to the beach he always said was too far.
Sand sure felt good between her toes:
She let herself go on a singles cruise,
To Vegas once, then to Honolulu.
Let herself go to New York City:
A week at the Spa; came back knocked-out pretty.
When he said he didn't love her no more,
She let herself go.
To Vegas once: Honolulu, New York City.
Came back knocked-out pretty.
Oh, I've heard it--and it fits perfectly!! I laughed out loud
You might have an opportunity soon. He has a limited future with the City of Durham.
All week long, we're some real nobodies,
But we just punched out: it's pay cheque Friday.
Weekend's here, good God Almighty:
People, let's get drunk an' be somebody
ping
She pointed out the one who's parents had the most money.
I just hope they don't recognize the rope-a-dope strategy and stay away.
I am really looking forward to Sharpton's expected arrival on Sunday.
There are only two or three reasonable people in the whole country now who dont know that Sharpton is a lying race-baiter. After he gets involved in this, even those last two or three will see reality.
Let him show his ass one more time -- in a situation so reminiscent of Tawana -- and then I can not wait to see him again playing the role of Democrat candidate/power broker. You know, when he is out of it, all the remaining Dem contenders have to go up to Harlem in and recieve his blessing. There will be video tape.
Thanks I'll be here all week, try the veal.
Maybe the DA hopes to set legal precedent in this case by going forward with a ground breaking approach -- prosecution without evidence!
So are their parents.
She's gonna need a bigger pole.
I just cannot get over this -- all this information getting out and not ONE WORD of it is good for Nifong.
If it turns out that one of her 'escort service' customers is politically connected, ain't nobody gonna to get charged.
If they weren't conservatives before, I bet they are now.
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