DC home invasion victim calls 911, gets pre-recorded message

A Washington, D.C. area resident was put on hold during a 9-1-1 call — in the middle of a home invasion.

Kathleen Burke said that she fought off and eventually chased an intruder who had entered her Northwest Washington home. When she called emergency 9-1-1, she was put on hold with pre-recorded messages in both English and Spanish, according to local NBC affiliate News-4.

City officials were dumbfounded when they learned of the incident.

“What happened is unacceptable,” said D.C. council member Tommy Wells. Wells chairs the council’s judiciary and public safety committee.

“I don’t want any citizen to be in that type of crisis and to be put on hold for that period of time. It really is disturbing to me.”

The incident illustrates that when push comes to shove, people are responsible for their own safety. Even when victims immediately get through to 9-1-1 operators, all the police can do in most cases is to mop up the scene and investigate the crime.

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