Milwaukee stabbing victim almost dies waiting for police

MILWAUKEE (AP) - A Milwaukee Police Department investigation has determined a miscommunication between officers and dispatchers nearly cost a stabbing victim her life.

Jasmyne Houston-Carter was attacked by an angry boyfriend, who slit her throat and stabbed her as she slept in her Milwaukee home. The woman says she feared she would die while waiting more than 30 minutes for emergency medical treatment.

The police investigation revealed the responding squad car took another call without telling dispatch. WISN-TV (http://bit.ly/1v3D28x ) reports a Milwaukee Fire Department rescue crew was outside the woman's home but had to wait for police due to protocol.

Assistant Fire Chief Dan Lipski says firefighters aren't trained to defuse violent situations so they have to sit idle until police declare a crime scene safe.

The police department has disciplined three officers who were responsible for the 31-minute delay.

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Information from: WISN-TV, http://www.wisn.com