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.
Well, they have it pretty much covered, don't you think?
All Nifong has is the girl's testimony.
They have pictures to confirm their side; they have the second dancer and the security guard.
That pretty much wraps it up.
She would be the lamest stripper in the world if she "stripped" in a flesh-colored body stocking!
I find it extremely hard to believe that that's what she wore, but if true, then the DA would have us believe the guys removed her body stocking to rape her (what, and then put it back on her before helping her to the car)?
AS the guy just said on one show, unless he gets those indictments, he's not going to win.
Could be; and it could have been before she got to the house.
If you think the media is going to take up in any way for white boys whom they probably fear are evil Christians with a dollar in their pocket, I have bridge I will give you a great deal on. If you think the media would pass up a chance to get a race riot going because of the "rich white boys" being let go, I have TWO bridges for you!
****I'm vouching for Jezebelle; she's a friend of mine, so NO Newbie stuff.
:-)
Have you ever heard of that? Calling 911 for slurs?
Any gal that plans on performing for a bunch of rowdy college boys had to have been taking something if ya ask me just to go and do what she did.
" Nancy Grace will say that she was drinking to mask the pain of being raped.""
One of the women on Rita's panel yelled/ screeched that exact sentiment this evening.
The stripper obviously had a few pops
after the gang rape " to calm her nerves."
"One of the articles from maybe a week ago said that there was no evidence that she had engaged in any kind of sex for some time -- three weeks? -- when she was examined in the hospital."
That's impossible for the medical staff to determine.
Thank goodness we were spared Wendy Murphy screaming RIPPED VAGINA again tonight on Nancy Grace's show.
It's been reported by the reporter from WPTF (?) that the tests were negative for lubricant.
Remember that she said she was raped, vaginally, anally, and ORALLY. She hasn't said anything about being blindfolded or condoms or the lights being off. There is no way with forced oral cop you don't know what it is.
GMAB.
I think Nifong was going for the DNA specimens from the players BEFORE he had the rape kit results back, again presuming she was telling the truth and champing at the bit to get the lynching started.
Why have all the women on the cables gone collectively
" baying at the full moon batty " over this ?
Is there a chocolate shortage I don't know about ?
But, of course, they generally follow media conventions. If you had to put them on a "side" though, they are definitely on our side. I don't see why they wouldn't be open to some constructive criticsm.
Newspapers and TV, of course, are different. Newspapers are too haughty and TV is too concerned to sell cars in ~every~ segment of the community. Our local TV is really all about selling cars.
Please don't make me buy all those bridges!
"Didn't the security guard at Kroger's describe her as being in see through lingerie? Since it has been reported that her boyfriend took her to the hospital, perhaps he brought her the nightgown/bathrobe?"
Then why would she still be in Kim's car? I thought she was in the see-through nightgown when the cops arrived at Kim's car. Or do I have my facts wrong? The problem is that either outfit could reasonably be described as lingerie. So I think we need more detail.
Ellen Jamiesons, ever heard of them?
It's what a couple different reporters who were shown the defense lawyer's photographs have stated. I don't know if there is a written article about it anywhere, but I would imagine so. I think the WPTF reporter was one of them, and there were also two female reporters who described her clothing in the photos similarly.
Kevin Miller.
He's done a great job.
Jez, what if the police really did take her to the drunk tank and the BF came and got her and took her to the hospital?
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