RSS
Home › News › Crime
Anderson officials refuse to release tape in robbery case
Man said dispatcher delayed response after 911 call; was disrespectul
STORY TOOLS
Share and Enjoy
RELATED STORIES
- Anderson dispatchers initiate life-and-death decisions with the push of a button
- 911 tape confirms quick response by dispatchers, police to armed robbery in Anderson
More Crime
- Honea Path Rescue Squad chief arrested
- Ex-Graham aide sentenced to 18 months for pilfering campaign coffers
- Wednesday's reported drive-by shooting in Anderson now treated as armed robbery
Rate this Article
ANDERSON — Law enforcement officials in Anderson are refusing to supply copies of a 911 tape that may show how a dispatcher handled a call with a man who’d just been robbed.
And the Anderson man, Dale Grimes, said officials at the Anderson County 911 Dispatch Center have since refused to take his calls asking about the status of his complaint about the dispatcher.
“They won’t return my calls,” he said. “They won’t accept my calls.”
Grimes said he was robbed on Aug. 9 by two men in the parking lot of Anderson Crossing apartments. Grimes’ wife, seeing two men, one with a handgun, went to her car and then drove toward the assailants, blowing the horn. The men ran off, and she possibly saved her husband’s life. One of the men had held the gun to Grimes’ head.
Grimes said then that the 911 dispatcher was disrespectful and delayed sending help.
“The dispatcher had an opinion that she used in her judgment,” Grimes said about 72 hours after the men threatened his life over $27. “She was condescending to me and implied that maybe it was a bad drug deal.
“She asked three times who had done it and kept asking over and over to see if I would change my answer,” he said.
According to the incident report, Anderson police were dispatched at 4:36 a.m. Aug. 9 and arrived a minute later. But Grimes said the times are wrong, blaming 911 operators for delaying the response by almost 30 minutes. Grimes said the 911 tape will provide proof that his call for help was unnecessarily delayed.
Anderson County Emergency Services, citing an open investigation, denied a request by the Anderson Independent-Mail for a copy of the tape under the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
According to Bill Rogers, executive director of the South Carolina Press Association, the association’s attorney determined that investigative material could be redacted from the tape, but the dispatch tape is public record and subject to disclosure.
On Aug. 13, Laura Johnson, administrative coordinator for Anderson County Emergency Services, denied the request, saying that an investigator with the Anderson Police Department said “this case is
still under investigation and the tape is not for release at this time.”
Randall Williams, spokesman for the city police, said the withholding of the tape is consistent with the investigator’s request.
But press association attorney Jay Bender questioned the department’s understanding of the law.
“The law requires the exempt and non-exempt material to be segregated and the non-exempt material made available.”
Grimes said he believes officials at the 911 center are covering up for an operator who was disrespectful by repeatedly suggesting that Grimes might have been involved in a crime.
On Aug. 12, Anita Donley, public information officer for the Anderson County 911 Dispatch Center, said there were many operators handling the Grimes’ call for help. While one operator asked questions in search of as much information as possible and typed in responses at her console, other operators were using the information to coordinate the emergency response and transmit Grimes’ responses to officers, Donley said at the time.
“A lot think it’s one-on-one” with a 911 dispatcher, she said. “That’s not the case.”
Grimes said he’s concerned that public safety may not mean that in Anderson.
“It’s upsetting to know that the people you rely on and count on in times of need to be there are not,” Grimes said.
Grimes said the tape would clear up any doubt.
“I pay taxes for them to protect us,” he said. “It seems like the laws protect criminals.”
Comments
There are 11 responses to this article.
Comments are meant to offer our readers a forum for thoughtful, robust debate about local issues.
Comments are moderated, but you may find the content of the conversations offensive, objectionable or factually disputable.
IndependentMail.com does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post or respond to every suggestion for a comment to be removed.
Before you post, consider this:
Please read our official user-contributions policy.
in response to cwilson4
Why would we care which park policeman responded to the car that the windows blew out of?
Is the wreck related to the car with the windows blown out?
Just curious.
I know exactly how Mr. Grimes feels. A couple of years ago I was the victim of a crime and called Anderson City Police. The officer that responded was a complete a**hole. He acted like it was a big inconvienience and was very condescending . He treated me as if I had committed a crime.
He didn't even bother to make a report and I was told that without a report I couldn't see the city judge to obtain a warrant.
It was a complete waste of time to call them for help and if I'm ever the victim of another crime in city limits I won't bother to call them again,I'll handle it myself.
This is exactly the reason we need to get rid of the leader of this whole "everything is a secret" county administration. Do you see what happens when you have people like Slick Joey providing the example for the rest of the county employees. Everything will become lawsuitws and FOI requests and "he said she said excuses" and stonewalling. It will decay all credibility from all departments as incident after incident ends up about FOI requests and lawsuits. When people stop having to answer to the public for their actions and behaviors, they become arrogant and condescending. The more who get away with it, the more it will happen. When county employees see the county administration will support their secrecy and stonewalling tactics it will only get worse.
You cave people are insane.
in response to robert
The same could be said about you people who have to make up little acronym's for everything. Cave, mave, pongo, bongo, aren't they all just cute little names!
Prestonites - what is that a disease or something?
Rick is Wrong crowd - rick who?
Man oh man,we have some sophisticated political pundits in THIS town. Face it, we're a bunch of rubes taken in by a snake oil salesman.
There are times when Officers are involved in situations where it is not in the best interest of the Officer or his Family for his or her name to be published by the media or for the information to be given out under The Freedom of Information Act.
As far as the Park Police who was transported to the hospital, I don't know that it matters who he was. He responded quickly to a very scary situation and did a great job. I was at the ball park that night.
When it comes to the Finances of the county we as citizens have every right to see documentation of all money spent including credit card statements. When a person chooses to serve his or her community or country in a Government or Law Enforcement position, they should be held to a higher standard and be prepared to be held accountable for their actions and the actions of those that work for them.
in response to mjand
when something has been deemed "public information".
there's no reason why it shouldn't be given to someone that request it.unless there's soemone trying to hide something or buying time in order to modify the information.
in response to mjand
Law enforcement that operates in secrecy is ripe for abusive behavior.
What a nasty person this 911 operator was and is. Who is she to come off like an all high and mighty, superior when her job is to help, and transfer the request to ones who can actually go there and form a real opinion. She or it, should be fired. And this small town with its hidden agendas, should be ashamed. Just a bunch of southern stupid hicks running the show. Good for nothing old boys. Go play some football, thats all you people care about.
well i think that if the wont release the conversation then they are hidding something ...i smell a lawsuit .........if they have nothing to hide then release the recording if not MR. GRIMES should call TOM DUNAWAY or somehting..........!!!!!!!
People please remember there are two sides to every story and the truth usually lies in the middle some where. And not knowing both sides of either of these stories why do you feel informed enough to make a judgement on the whole story. Do any of you know Mr Grimes? Does he have a history with the local police? Does anyone Know the 911 operator? has she done this before? is she generally nasty to people? What were the Grimes doing in the parking lot at 4:36am? Until these questions are answered I will not form an opinion on the matter. We are so ready to condemn some one when we never even heard their side of the story. God please bless me if I ever end on Jury duty with any of these people, or worse end up in court and they are my Jury.
(Requires free registration.)