911 tape: Man shot by cops 'drunk,' pushed son
The night Daniel Moreno was shot by Arlington Heights police his wife, crying and fearful, told a 911 dispatcher that he was "really drunk" and had injured their 9-year-old son by pushing him and causing him to fall, the audio of 911 tapes shows.
The Daily Herald obtained the audio copies of the calls by filing a Freedom of Information Act request with the Northwest Central Dispatch System, which handled three calls related to the event that night.
The fatal incident began at 11:44 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, when a woman called 911, asking police to come to their house on the 400 block of West Palatine Road. The incident ended after midnight, when police fired a shot at Moreno in his house, striking him in the head. Arlington Heights police say Moreno fired a handgun at them from inside the house before they returned fire.
Shortly after the shooting, and her 28-year-old husband's subsequent death on Aug. 4, Jennifer Ochoa commented briefly to the Daily Herald, saying the police account of that night is not correct. She has not yet explained what she means by that.
A neighbor has said Jennifer Moreno told police the only gun her husband had in the house was a BB gun.
The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Unit is investigating the shooting, and Arlington Heights Police Commander Kenneth Galinski said he has been told it will be four to six weeks before a report is completed.
11:44 p.m. Aug. 1, Northwest Central Dispatch: 911. Where do you need assistance?
Woman's voice, calm but urgent-sounding: Yes, I need someone to come to 4- W. Palatine Road.
Dispatch: In what town?
The phone is hung up.
11:45 p.m. & 11:46 p.m. Dispatcher attempts to call back, gets voice mail both times.
11:47 p.m. Dispatcher calls back.
Man's voice: Hello?
Dispatch: Hey, what's going on over there?
Man: Who's this?
Dispatch: This is the police department.
Man: What's going on, man?
Dispatch: What's going on over there? This phone dialed 911. (No answer) Hello?
Man: Hello.
Dispatch: Yeah, what's going on over there?
Man: Umm, my wife had too much to drink at a wedding tonight, and uh ...
Dispatch: OK. And what address are you at?
The phone is hung up.
• • •
11:48 p.m. Aug. 1, Northwest Central Dispatch: 911. Where do you need assistance?
Jennifer Ochoa, clearly upset and tearful: 4- W. Palatine Road, Arlington Heights.
Dispatch: 4- W. Palatine
Ochoa: Yes.
Dispatch: OK, and you're calling from (names address next door).
Ochoa: Yes.
Dispatch: What's the phone number you're calling from?
Ochoa: I don't know. This is my neighbor's.
Dispatch: Tell me exactly what happened.
Ochoa: I was at a wedding tonight with my husband. He had too much to drink.
Dispatch: OK.
Ochoa: And he's really, really drunk. It's a domestic.
Dispatch: OK.
Ochoa: He kind of shoved my son. My son fell.
Dispatch: OK. So you need an ambulance to come out?
Ochoa: Yeah.
Dispatch: All right. Stay on the line. I'm going to get you some help, OK?
Ochoa: OK.
(Pause)
Dispatch: What's your first name?
Ochoa: Jennifer.
Dispatch: OK, Jennifer.
Ochoa: (aside, presumably to her son) OK, honey.
Dispatch: Take a deep breath, try to get him to calm down.
(In the background, someone says reassuringly, "It's not bad, you know it's not bad at all. Now we'll put a Band-Aid on and clean it up.")
Dispatch: So is your son at 4 - or is he at (the neighbor's) with you?
Ochoa: He's at (the neighbor's) with me. But I have a 1-year-old, he's in my bed at home sleeping and my husband's in the house.
Dispatch: All right. Hold on, I'm just talking to the ambulance getting them on the way, OK?
Ochoa: OK.
(Pause).
Dispatch: What kind of injuries does he have? What's wrong with him?
Ochoa: He hit the back of his head on the floor and he's bleeding.
Dispatch: Bleeding from the back of the head?
Ochoa: Yeah, just a little.
Dispatch: How old is he?
Ochoa: He's 9.
Dispatch: And your husband is the one who did that? He pushed him? Or did he hit him?
Ochoa: Yeah, he pushed him. Like, it was me and him were arguing and he got in the middle.
Dispatch: OK. And there's also a 1-year-old at the house?
Ochoa: Yes. He's in his crib sleeping.
Dispatch: OK. Help is on the way. Spell your last name for me.
Ochoa: O-C-H-O-A.
Dispatch: And spell your first name.
Ochoa: J-E-N-N-I-F-E-R.
Dispatch: And your husband's name, does he have the same last name as you?
Ochoa: No. Moreno. M-O-R-E-N-O.
Dispatch: What's his first name?
Ochoa: Daniel
Dispatch: OK. Now your son, is he awake?
Ochoa: Yes ... wait, which one?
Dispatch: The 9-year-old.
Ochoa: Yeah.
Dispatch: OK, we're going to try to do something about his wounds until help gets there, OK?
Ochoa: I'm sorry, what?
Dispatch: We're going to try to help him with the wounds until the paramedics get there, OK? What's your husband's birthday?
Ochoa: (Gives it).
Dispatch: Does he have a middle?
Ochoa: Anthony.
Dispatch: OK. I'm just updating them. They're on the way. Is your son completely alert?
Ochoa: Yes, yes he is.
Dispatch: Is he breathing normally?
Ochoa: Yes, he is.
Dispatch: Is the blood spurting or pouring out?
Ochoa: No, no. It actually stopped. My neighbor she put an ice pack on it. They're (the police) here in front.
Dispatch: OK, hang up and go talk to them.
Ochoa: OK, bye.
Dispatch: Bye bye.
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<h1>More Coverage</h1>
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<h2>Audio</h2>
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<li><a href="/audio/moreno911.mp3">911 call</a></li>
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