Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Break In 911 Call

This is the 911 call that Lucia Whalen makes when she sees Henry Louis Gates, Jr. trying to break into his own house. The 911 call seems to differ from the report Officer... More »

This is the 911 call that Lucia Whalen makes when she sees Henry Louis Gates, Jr. trying to break into his own house. The 911 call seems to differ from the report Officer Crowley makes after arresting Henry Gates.
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Operator: 911…what is the exact location of your emergency.
Lucia: Hi, I’m actually on…street in Cambridge and the house number is 17…
Operator: Okay ma’am, your... More »

Operator: 911…what is the exact location of your emergency.
Lucia: Hi, I’m actually on…street in Cambridge and the house number is 17…
Operator: Okay ma’am, your cell phone cut out, what’s the address again?
Lucia: Sorry, it’s 7 Ware that’s W-A-R-E Street.
Operator: The emergency is at 7 Ware Street right?
Lucia: No 17, I’m sorry, some other woman is talking next to me but it’s 17. 1-7 Ware Street.
Operator: What’s the phone number you’re calling me from?
Lucia: I’m calling you from my cell phone number.
Operator: Alright, tell me exactly what happened.
Lucia: Um, I don’t know what’s happening. I just have an older woman standing here and she had noticed two gentlemen trying to get in the house at that number, 17 Ware Street, and they kind of had to barge in and they broke the screen door and they finally got in. And when I had looked I went further closer to the house a little bit after the gentlemen were already in the house. I noticed two suitcases so I’m not sure if these are two individuals who actually work there I mean who live there…
Operator: So you think they might have been breaking in?
Lucia: I don’t know ‘cause I have no idea.
Operator: Do you think the possibility might have been there? What do you mean by barged in? Did they kick the door in or…?
Lucia: Um, no they were pushing the door in like the screen part of the front door was cut.
Operator: How did they open the lock?
Lucia: I didn’t see a key or anything because I was a little bit away from the doors but I did notice…
Operator: What do the suitcases have to do with anything?
Lucia: I don’t know I’m just saying that’s what I saw…
Operator: Do you know the apartment that they broke into?
Lucia: No, it’s just the first floor. I don’t even think it’s an apartment. It’s 17 Ware Street, it’s a house, it’s a yellow house; number 17. I don’t know if they live there and they just had a hard time with their key but I did notice that they kind of used their shoulder to try to barge in and they got in. I don’t know if they had a key or not because I couldn’t see form my angle. But you know when I looked a little closely that’s what I saw.
Operator: Black guy or Hispanic?
Lucia: Um…
Operator: Are they still in the house?
Lucia: They’re still in the house I believe, yeah.
Operator: are they white, black or Hispanic?
Lucia: Um, well they were two larger men, one looked kind of Hispanic but I’m not really sure. And the other one entered and I didn’t see what he looked like at all. I just saw from a distance and this older woman was worried thinking that someone is breaking in someone’s house, they’ve been barging in. She interrupted me and that’s when I had noticed otherwise I probably wouldn’t have noticed it at all to be honest with you. So I was just calling because she was a concerned neighbor I guess.
Operator: Okay, are you standing outside?
Lucia: I’m standing outside, yes.
Operator: Alright well the police are on the way, you can meet them when they get there. What’s your name?
Lucia: My name is…
Operator: Alright we’re on the way.
Lucia: Okay. Alright I guess I’ll wait. Thanks.
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