Crime & Safety

AUDIO: Drowning Man's 911 Call in Arlington Heights

Several calls came into Northwest Dispatch beginning at 6:58 a.m. Thursday, July 25. Victim Henry E. Laseke is heard pleading for help to come quick as his car sank in a retention pond.

Several 911 calls reported an SUV sinking in an Arlington Heights pond late last week, including the victim, who pleaded for help to be sent help quickly. 

CAUTION: The content of this 911 call could be distressing to some.

Audio of 911 call made by drowning victim to Northwest Central Dispatch

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The calls, released to Arlington Heights Patch by Northwest Central Dispatch, came in from six different callers beginning at 6:58 a.m. on Thursday, July 25 from the Arlington on the Pond subdivision. 

Investigation relating to 911 calls started by Northwest Central Dispatch

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Henry E. Laseke, 89, of Arlington Heights had driven his Cadillac SUV into a retention pond in the subdivision, after hitting an electrical unit and knocking out a support pole below a balcony. 

A female resident of Arlington on the Pond called 911 at 6:58 a.m. and reported a car went into the pond, and there was a man in the pond by the car. It was unclear throughout the conversation whether the man in the water was believed to have driven the car into the water, or was trying to help the victim.

The woman also reported the car was continuing to dip down in the pond, and that a small fire was burning after the car hit an electrical unit before entering the pond. 

The next call, at 6:59 a.m., could be more difficult to listen to, for some.

“Help me quick,” said Laseke. “Hurry up, I’m sinking.”

Laseke told the dispatcher he was in the lake, and there were a number of moments where the two talked over one another, making the conversation difficult to listen to. Laseke is heard at least two times stating that he was in his car and it was sinking. The dispatcher told Laseke to remain calm and that help was coming. Roughly 30-45 seconds into the call, Laseke is no longer audible, and the dispatcher is heard saying, “Sir,” multiple times until the call disconnects.

Four more calls also were logged at 6:59 a.m.:

A woman reported her elderly neighbor drove into an electrical transformer and caused a fire near her home in the Arlington on the Pond subdivision. The dispatcher asked the woman if the car went into the pond, referencing other emergency callers that reported a car in the pond. The caller was unaware. Sirens are heard in the background. 

Dive Team Photos

A man reported the car wasn’t completely submerged yet, but expressed concerns it could sink further into the retention pond. He added that there was a person in the water trying to get the driver out, and that he heard sirens.

A woman reported the car in the pond. “Oh please hurry,” she is heard saying. She also told the dispatcher that she saw people running out toward the car in the water.

A final call, also from a woman, reported there was a man in the car submerged in the pond, and reported a man swimming toward the shore. It was somewhat unclear listening afterward to the call, whether the man swimming toward the shore was the victim, or someone trying to help the victim. The dispatcher told the caller emergency responders were on the way.

The official cause of death of Laseke was ruled an accidental drowning, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office Department of Investigations. 

According to a media release from Northwest Central Dispatch, the agency is looking into the circumstances related to the accident, and an inquiry is ongoing. 

"It would not be appropriate at this stage to make a judgment call about whether the call was handled properly until our inquiry is complete," the release stated. 

The release went on to say that due to performance evaluation, inquiries are conducted on all cases with a major incident. 

 

 

 


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