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.
either that or this "dancer" was looking for a way to make some easy money via lawsuit..sounding more and more like there's more here than meets the eye..
He's going to charge one of these guys, probably based on a random, two-week old ID and the kid's going to have to go through the living hell of being brandished as a racist and rapist. This is going to be done just so the DA can try to win an election. It won't matter to him if the kid is ultimately acquited. This case is just such total and utter BS.
Ut Oh, the rhying reverends aren't going to like this.
She is black and they are white - he will move heaven and earth to make sure charges are brought.
Hospital says she was beat up, students have a picture showing her with cuts and bruises but cop says she is fine?
WTF.
Whole lot more to the story then meets the eye
A grand jury might be a good idea. Have her testify under oath before a grand jury.
More grist for the mill!
Officer: Alleged Duke Rape Victim 'Passed-Out Drunk'
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Related Stores available at the Link:
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• Lawyer Expects Some Duke Lacrosse Players to Be Charged •
Prosecutor: Duke Rape Investigation 'Not Going Away' •
Doubt at Duke? •
Lawyer: No DNA Match in Duke Gang Rape Case •
Lawyer: Photos Will Show Dancer Was Hurt, Impaired Before Duke Lacrosse Party •
Coach Quits, Lacrosse Season Canceled in Duke Rape Case •
Duke Lacrosse Coach Resigns in Rape Flap •
Cops Find Graphic E-Mail Sent After Alleged Duke Lacrosse Rape •
Students Near Duke Lacrosse House Warned of Violence •
Transcript: Letter to Students from Duke VP of Student Affairs
She is black and they are white - he will move heaven and earth to make sure charges are brought.
If I had all this negative pablicity and felt I had to make a stupid attempt to win this case, I would not make another move until school is out for the summer. I would keep making excuses like we are still looking for evidence or something. It is so explosive right now that I would not want two entire universities being in session on my next move.
Nancy Grace will say that she was drinking to mask the pain of being raped.
I actually will give the woman a pass on this one. If she had truly been raped (by the athletes or anyone else) and was stunned she might be unwilling to get out of the car and that might cause the first reporting officer to conclude she was on drugs or drunk when that might not be the case. If they administered no test, they can't really say if she was or not.
I think this information is taken out of context much the way the hateful e-mail by the lacrosse player has been. It looks different now than it would have seemed at the time.
I think he has backed himself into a really tight corner. So I'd say pretty stupid.
But he's got to indict before the election. If he doesn't indict before the election he'll for certain lost the black vote, which they say is absolutely critical for him.
Lawyer: Photos Will Show Dancer Was Hurt, Impaired Before Duke Lacrosse Party
******************************** AN EXCERPT ****************************
DURHAM, N.C. — Time-stamped photographs will show an exotic dancer was already injured and "very impaired" when she arrived at a party where she claims she was raped by members of 's men's lacrosse team, an attorney for one of the players said Sunday.
Durham attorney said some of the photographs, taken when she arrived at the house, indicate the woman was injured before getting to the party March 13. They show extensive bruises and scrapes on her legs, especially around the knees, he said.
"This young lady was substantially impaired. She had fallen several times during the course of the evening," Thomas said.
He declined to identify the player he represents and said he would not release the photos, taken by at least two cameras, until pending tests are completed.
Oh man. I would love to ask that officer a few questions.
I still haven't gotten over the wonder of a male college lacrosse team. :^)
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