Good Samaritan says 911 operator debated him instead of quickly sending help for carjacking

A motorist in DeKalb County, Georgia witnessed a woman getting carjacked and called 911, but instead of getting help, he says the 911 operator debated him about what to call the crime. As reported by WAGA Fox 5 News, Willie Hubbard saw the woman getting thrown to the ground by a man. Hubbard told the station, “I’m thinking that could’ve been my momma, my grandmother, that could have been my sister, anybody.” So he called 911 and reported the crime, hoping to get the woman some help from the authorities.

Willie Hubbard (WAGA)

Hubbard explained what transpired on his call with the 911 operator:

911 operator: ‘Sir could you tell me what happened.’

Hubbard: ‘He just snatched her out of the car and took her car. She just got carjacked.’

911 operator: ‘Well sir, that’s not a carjacking, that’s a theft.’

Hubbard: ‘Ma’am, that’s not a theft.’

911 operator: ‘Well did he have a gun?’

Hubbard: ‘No he didn’t have a gun, but he just snatched her and threw her to the ground, and stole her car.’

The Good Samaritan said that as he saw the woman on the ground screaming, the 911 operator kept debating the terms that he used to describe the crime. “Then she proceeded to say, ‘Well we’ll send a unit,’ Hubbard told WAGA. “So we sat there approximately 38 minutes before the first officer even came. And then when the sergeant came she was explaining to us that it was called to them as a theft not a robbery. And I was like, ‘That’s crazy.’”

James Conroy, interim DeKalb Police Chief (WAGA)

James Conroy, interim DeKalb Police Chief, said, “Looking at the call information, it does appear there was a delayed response of somewhere over 30 minutes, which in my opinion is not acceptable in a carjacking case.” He promised to look further into the matter.

The problem is something that Hubbard feels has got to be fixed saying, “The dispatcher was arguing with me about a call that I made about a concern, as a concerned citizen. I was just upset about it. Something needs to be done because if it happened to me it can happen to anybody.”

Video and more info: WAGA

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Good Samaritan rescues man from burning SUV

NEW BRIGHTON, Minn. (AP) — A Good Samaritan showed "superhuman strength" when he bent the door of a burning sport utility vehicle and rescued another motorist on a Minnesota freeway, a state trooper said.

Bob Renning, 52, of Woodbury was driving with his girlfriend on Interstate 35W in New Brighton Sunday evening when he noticed the vehicle driving behind him was on fire.

Renning told the Star Tribune (http://strib.mn/1m51GUH ) that he stopped about 200 feet in front of the SUV as it pulled over. Renning said he sprinted to the car as he saw flames and smoke "rolling around" the SUV. His girlfriend called 911.

When Renning reached the SUV, the flames had intensified and the interior was filled with smoke. He couldn't see anyone inside. He pulled on the door handle, but it wouldn't open. He then spotted Michael Johannes frantically pounding and kicking against the passenger-side window.

Johannes couldn't open the door after the locks and power windows failed.

Renning, who said he is not especially fit, gripped the top of the door frame with his fingertips, braced his foot against the door and pulled. The door then bent in half and the glass shattered, the Minnesota State Patrol said.

This image taken from video made Monday, June 30, 2014, shows Bob Renning, 52, posed at his home in  …

Renning, a member of the Air National Guard, said he doesn't know how he pried the door open.

State Trooper Zachary Hill, who was quickly on the scene, said Renning displayed "superhuman strength" in the rescue.

"I don't think I could take a crowbar and fold the door like he did," Hill said.

Johannes said he had no idea someone was trying to rescue him. He said he was holding his breath and believed he was going to die.

"Thirty seconds later and I would have been done," said Johannes, who was treated for a cut to his head and smoke inhalation.

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Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com

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