Questions Surround Actions Of 911 Dispatcher In Death Of Bronx Baby
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An investigation was underway Thursday night, after a 911 dispatcher allegedly bungled an emergency call that ended with the death of an infant in the Bronx.
Julia Knight, 32, said her 5-month-old daughter, Isabella Glover, was sleeping in bed with her at the Webster Morrisania Houses public housing development in the Bronx last Thursday night.
"The next morning when I got up, my daughter was on her stomach in the pillow," Knight said. "When I turned her over, she wasn't breathing."
Knight called right away 911. She told 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria that she was on the phone with the 911 dispatcher for 24 minutes.
Questions Surround Actions Of 911 Dispatcher In Death Of Bronx Baby
During that time, CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez reported, Knight said the dispatcher kept insisting that she was giving her a bad address.
"She kept saying, 'Ma'am, that's a bad address' and I'm like, 'No, it's not a bad address, it's 450 East 169th Street, apartment 6C," Knight said. "She was saying '459;' It sounded like she said 'East 179th Street.'"
Knight claims the dispatcher sent the police and paramedics to the wrong apartment building twice.
"I feel like she needs to lose everything because she kept arguing with me," Knight said, adding that the dispatcher also tried to explain to her how to give the baby CPR, but it was to no avail.
"She was telling me to do the CPR, but I kept telling her I don't know what I'm doing, I'm not certified to do any of that," Knight said.
When emergency responders finally arrived, they found little Isabella unconscious and unresponsive. She died at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center.
The New York City Medical Examiner's office will determine the cause of death.
Knight believes her baby girl would still be alive if EMS workers had arrived immediately.
"They would've gotten here in time they could save my baby because she was unconscious, she wasn't dead," Knight said.
Investigators believe the delay was caused by human error and not a technical issue, CBS 2's Sanchez reported.
She described her little girl as a happy baby who just wanted to be fed and sleep.
"The memories that I will have of my baby is her smile and her being happy and always sticking her tongue out," Knight said.
Knight is demanding 911 operators get more training.
"I'm telling my story because I don't want this to happen to the next caller that calls them and it takes EMS forever to respond," Knight said.
As Sanchez reported, investigators say the dispatcher involved has a prior disciplinary issue.
The NYPD said the 911 dispatcher has been placed on desk duty while the incident is investigated, 1010 WINS reported.
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