Crime & Safety
UPDATED: Cause of Death Released, 911 Calls for Arlington Heights Pond Victim Investigated
An inquiry has been launched into how Northwest Central Dispatch handled 911 calls made Henry Laseke as his SUV was sinking in a retention pond. His cause of death was determined to be drowning.
An investigation is now underway into the handling of 911 calls made by victim Henry E. Laseke and witnesses at the scene where an SUV drove into a pond, according to a press release from Northwest Central Dispatch.
Dispatchers fielded a number of calls early on Thursday, July 25 from Laseke, as well as neighbors attempting to help him as his vehicle sank into a retention pond in the Arlington on the Pond subdivision.
CAUTION: The content of this 911 call may be disturbing to some.
Audio of Laseke's 911 call as his car was sinking in the Arlington Heights retention pond.
Northwest Dispatch, which handles emergency calls from Arlington Heights, Palatine, Buffalo Grove, Hoffman Estates, Mount Prospect and a number of other area communities, launched its own investigation and will be reviewing all 911 calls and reports, in addition to first responder and dispatcher accounts, the paper reported.
Before his vehicle ended up in the pond, witnesses reported Laseke hit an electrical unit which caused a fire, as well as a support pole below a balcony in the complex.
According to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office Department of Investigations, Laseke's cause of death was ruled a drowning and was determined to be accidental.
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