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Started By
Message
Arkansas Woman, Stuck In Her Car Under Water, Dies As 911 Operator Mocks Her
Posted on 8/30/19 at 7:54 pm
Posted on 8/30/19 at 7:54 pm
quote:
Debbie Stevens was out delivering newspapers in Fort Smith, Arkansas when floodwaters in the riverfront town swept up her car. A distraught Stevens called 911 for help.
Instead of receiving help, she was mocked by the 911 operator, who told a panicked Stevens "You're not going to die. I don't know why you're freaking out" as water slowly filled her car. Stevens later drowned.
quote:
Police released audio of the disturbing 911 call Friday but not the name of the dispatcher. Stevens can be heard pleading for help, repeatedly saying, "Please help me. I don't wanna die."
The 911 dispatcher replied to Stevens in a mocking tone, flippantly telling her authorities will get there when they get there.
Dispatcher: "You're not going to die. I don't know why you're freaking out. It's OK. I know the water level is high."
Stevens: "I'm scared. I'm sorry."
Dispatcher: "I understand that, but you freaking out — doing nothing but losing your oxygen up in there, so calm down."
Stevens: "When are they going to be here?"
Dispatcher: "As soon as they get there."
At one point the 911 operator berates Stevens for driving into the water. Stevens: "I'm scared. I've never had anything like this happen to me before."
Dispatcher: "This will teach you next time don't drive in the water."
Stevens: "Couldn't see it, ma'am. I'm sorry, or I wouldn't have."
Dispatcher: "I don't see how you didn't see it. You had to go right over it, so."
The full audio of the 911 call and police bodycam footage can be viewed in the video below, but a warning to readers, some might find it disturbing.
LINK
I read the article first and my opinion changed after listening to the call.
After you listen to the audio, do you think the operator is mocking her? Is this a poorly titled article?
Here is a photo of the woman who drowned and the 911 dispatcher.
911 dispatcher on the right.
This post was edited on 9/1/19 at 12:11 am
16
Posted on 8/30/19 at 7:57 pm to OweO
Dispatcher was coming across as a bitch with those extra comments
Even if the woman was an idiot
Even if the woman was an idiot
This post was edited on 8/30/19 at 8:24 pm
Posted on 8/30/19 at 7:58 pm to OweO
From reading it, the only part I disagree with is her telling her that will teach her a lesson.
Sounds like she is trying to calm her down
Sounds like she is trying to calm her down
Posted on 8/30/19 at 7:59 pm to OweO
Karma is a bitch. And I hope she meets her.
Posted on 8/30/19 at 8:07 pm to OweO
How I pictured the operator to look like:
Posted on 8/30/19 at 8:27 pm to OweO
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/14/20 at 10:50 pm
Posted on 8/30/19 at 8:33 pm to OweO
It was the operator's last day too...yikes.
Posted on 8/30/19 at 8:33 pm to OweO
I'm sure I don't need to tell the OT this, but if trapped in a car filling with water, you should spend 100% of your time and effort on calmly deciding and executing an exit...
and 0% of your time/brainpower on calling 911.
and 0% of your time/brainpower on calling 911.
Posted on 8/30/19 at 8:37 pm to OweO
The 911 Operator was on her last day on the job. She DGAF and someone died. Sheriff’s Department is circling the wagons so nothing will happen.
Posted on 8/30/19 at 8:39 pm to OweO
quote:
Stevens: "When are they going to be here?"
Dispatcher: "As soon as they get there."
That’s the biggest dickhead, yet alpha, response a 911 dispatcher can respond with.
Posted on 8/30/19 at 8:51 pm to OweO
I just listened to entire call and watched the entire body cam video (x5speed in middle where nothing happened). Main issues:
1) Victim couldn’t give exact location BUT clearly stated multiple times she was on back left side behind the apartments where the road came to a dead end and was surrounded by trees. The information was not given to authorities promptly or it wasn’t clear because it wasn’t until the end of the video that police and FD figured out that’s where she was.
2) People living in the apartments had also placed a call telling authorities where she was and what was happening and helped them find her eventually. Right where the victim said she was.
3) It’s believable that she didn’t realize the water had risen or was moving bc it was very dark and she wasn’t familiar with the area.
4) Dispatcher was rude but victim was talking nonstop and dispatcher couldn’t hear to communicate with rescue workers effectively.
5) Debbie needed to shut up. I know she was scared but she wouldn’t be quiet long enough to clearly hear and answer dispatcher’s questions or allow dispatcher to communicate with rescue workers.
6) Dispatcher probably didn’t realize the severity of danger and didn’t escalate the call in time.
7) It took an absurd amount of time for them to find her given the victim and witness descriptions of where she was.
1) Victim couldn’t give exact location BUT clearly stated multiple times she was on back left side behind the apartments where the road came to a dead end and was surrounded by trees. The information was not given to authorities promptly or it wasn’t clear because it wasn’t until the end of the video that police and FD figured out that’s where she was.
2) People living in the apartments had also placed a call telling authorities where she was and what was happening and helped them find her eventually. Right where the victim said she was.
3) It’s believable that she didn’t realize the water had risen or was moving bc it was very dark and she wasn’t familiar with the area.
4) Dispatcher was rude but victim was talking nonstop and dispatcher couldn’t hear to communicate with rescue workers effectively.
5) Debbie needed to shut up. I know she was scared but she wouldn’t be quiet long enough to clearly hear and answer dispatcher’s questions or allow dispatcher to communicate with rescue workers.
6) Dispatcher probably didn’t realize the severity of danger and didn’t escalate the call in time.
7) It took an absurd amount of time for them to find her given the victim and witness descriptions of where she was.
Posted on 8/31/19 at 7:54 am to OweO
quote:
Dispatcher: "This will teach you next time don't drive in the water." Stevens: "Couldn't see it, ma'am. I'm sorry, or I wouldn't have." Dispatcher: "I don't see how you didn't see it. You had to go right over it, so."
family lawsuit will net big $$$$ with just this exchange
Posted on 9/1/19 at 12:11 am to OweO
Updated
Posted on 9/1/19 at 12:15 am to OweO
most dispatchers are terrible people to begin with
Posted on 9/1/19 at 9:38 am to OweO
so is it now:
floaties or don't GTFO?
floaties or don't GTFO?
Posted on 9/1/19 at 4:36 pm to OweO
I was driving home that night a couple blocks from where this happened and it was raining so hard I could barely see to drive. Almost pulled over several times because visibility was so bad.
I know the place where she drowned and one of my dad's co-workers had a son who drowned there too because of flash floods sweeping them off of the road there.
Hope that fat sack of shite dispatcher gets what's coming to her.
I know the place where she drowned and one of my dad's co-workers had a son who drowned there too because of flash floods sweeping them off of the road there.
Hope that fat sack of shite dispatcher gets what's coming to her.
Posted on 9/1/19 at 5:00 pm to OweO
(no message)
This post was edited on 10/12/22 at 6:50 am
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