Ohio woman calls 911 while being beaten, but no help is ever sent

CANTON, Ohio-- A dispatcher in Ohio who didn't send help when a woman called 911 while being beaten will face a hearing to determine potential discipline.

Canton police Chief Bruce Lawyer tells WEWS-TV that in such cases where dispatchers can't reach a caller via callback, officers should be sent to do a safety check. He says in this case, that didn't happen.

The woman says she called 911 Sunday when her ex-boyfriend attacked her at home, but he tossed the phone away from her.

When a dispatcher called back, the woman says she crawled to the phone but couldn't hear the incoming voice because the speaker broke.

"I called 911. Nobody ever showed up," the woman told WEWS.

Lawver says the unidentified employee facing possible discipline has been a dispatcher for a decade.

"It appears we dropped the ball," he said.

The alleged attacker is wanted on charges including assault.