A text messaging feature at a 911 call center led to the arrest of a western Kentucky man involved in a rolling domestic assault.
On Friday morning at approximately 7:10, Kentucky State Police Post 1 in Mayfield received multiple 911 calls from the same number. Telecommunicators, though, could not hear anyone on the line.
Telecommunicators initiated a text message conversation through a feature in the “10-8 Systems” computer aided dispatch (CAD) to establish contact with the caller. Through the text message conversation, telecommunicators were able to determine that the female caller had been physically assaulted and was in a vehicle with her abuser, state police said.
“The caller also indicated that the microphone on her cell phone did not work, and she was not able to talk as the person who assaulted her did not know she had called 911,” according to Kentucky State Police.
Telecommunicators also learned that the caller was pregnant and the male driver, later identified as 25-year-old Joshua Keeling, of Fulton, said he intended to wreck, causing harm to the female and her unborn child.
Telecommunicators continued to text the caller, obtaining a vehicle description while attempting to determine the location of the rolling domestic.
The female caller, though, texted that during the assault, Keeling broke her glasses and she could not see to provide a location. Telecommunicators then utilized Rapid SOS and Rapid Deploy, two state-of-the-art pieces of technology that use real-time mapping and can also transmit health information and emergency contact information from your phone to the 911 operator.
Through these systems, telecommunicators were able to pinpoint the victim and Keeling’s location and see live data as the vehicle moved.
Telecommunicators relayed information to troopers and Fulton County deputies who located and stopped the vehicle on I-69, approximately two miles before the Tennessee state line.
Keeling was arrested and charged with fourth-degree assault.
“The KSP Post 1 radio room was staffed by four telecommunicators on the morning of March 7: Kim Newsome, Alaina Ramage, Alisha Cooper, and Chad Spain worked as a team to make the positive outcome of this incident possible. This incident highlights the importance of our incredible telecommunicators and the systems they utilize,” state police stated.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
