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.
Why do you think the other stripper (Kim) was black? I don't think any news story has said so and she doesn't sound like it on the 911 calls.
One fact that may fit in there is the neighbor Bissey overheard two guys arguing, one saying to the other "it's only $100."
Could be the stripper cost was split 8 ways, and after the girls bolted to the car the first time, one of the guys went to Dan and said, you screwed up hiring black strippers and who anyway only danced for 3 minutes - I want my $100 back. Dan then says basically, just chill, it's only $100.
LOL.
Or, "Back to Traffic Court for you!"
WELCOME TO FR.
In her 911 call, she said "They called us N*****," but you could be right.
I've been trying to keep up with this story, but since I was away for three weeks, it wasn't easy.
I think we're getting there; as each little piece falls, it makes the others make sense.
The really neato thing about this phone call is that it came from the press' petition, not the defense.
I just cannot imagine what he thought he had.
There have been news stories that have said both strippers were black (of course, they may be wrong).
We can all have our opinions on if she sounds black or not. I listened to it carefully, and Kim sounds black to me, but probably not from the South or certainly not the deep South. Maybe midwestern or California originally. Also, if you listen to the end of it, she says "thanks, baby" to the dispatcher.
NP, Jezebelle is a friend of mine I drug in here to talk about this case.
You're Welcome. You can't afford to miss a day on this one. The story has a way of changing hour to hour.
(I can't get that radio traffic from the cops to open - dial up service only here :^( ..... )
I'll look for a transcript.
Great - I only speak Motorola 10 code, 10-4?
I wasn't reaming her out...just asking where she got part of her info from. And I DID give her a "WELCOME TO FR"; BTW. :-)
Long ago, in my salad days, I dated a guy who was going to Duke. This is why the case interests me; it's a "familiar" name. Though I am certain that Duke and its environs have changed mightily, during the ensuing decades.
>>>I just joined FR today.<<<
Welcome aboard!
well, Joe.......what does it say about these priviledged college men to hire such a speciment?........I don't understand that mentality either....
That should be enough right there to send up red flags. I can't believe any male would put anything he didn't want bitten off into an angry, fighting hookers mouth.
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