911 Recording Clarifies Incident at Candidate's Home
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A 911 call released Thursday by the Moore County Sheriff's Office clearly spells out that police thought Tommy Davis, a Republican candidate for state Senate District 29, was armed and suicidal when they responded to his house the night of April 4.
In the 44-minute call, Davis’ wife, Ruby, tells dispatchers at the start of the call that her 63-year-old husband “has been drinking and threatening to commit suicide.”
When the dispatcher asks Ruby Davis whether she needs fire, police or medical personnel, she says, “I think both.”
The call conflicts with an explanation of events Davis provided to The Pilot on Tuesday. He said the incident was a misunderstanding and said he wished that the story would stay out of the paper until after the May 8 primary.
Davis said in a phone interview Thursday that he had no intention of taking his life.
When asked about his continued candidacy, Davis responded emphatically, saying, “I have no intention of dropping out.”
Tommy Davis originally blamed that night on “an emotional breakdown, with the stress of everything.” Later, he and his wife said the issue stemmed from a problem with his blood sugar levels and that his wife had called wanting medical help.
In interviews and subsequent comments on The Pilot’s website, Tommy Davis questioned the professionalism of the Sheriff’s officers, said the statements in the report were misleading and that his treatment may have been politically motivated because he said Sheriff Lane Carter has publicly endorsed Jerry Tillman, one of his opponents in the primary.
Davis, who worked for the Moore County Sheriff’s Office for seven years, is one of three men running for N.C. Senate District 29 in the May 8 Republican primary. The others running are Pinehurst resident John Marcum and incumbent state Rep. Jerry Tillman of Asheboro. No Democrat filed for the position.
Davis wrote on thepilot.com: “... what was omitted was the use of God’s name in vain by Sargent (sic) Key. Training should be in his future as well as other “professional officers” who completely missed the course on dealing with medical emergencies. 6-8 officers with shoulder fired rifles and banana clips to take down a 63 year old man sitting in a chair by his swimming pool is a first in ‘professionalism.’ Empty hands held high and nothing in my pockets, but a hip injury and bruise, and a bloody elbow from being attacked by a 250 pound Sargent Key running at full speed.”
The comment continued: “I cringe to think that Sheriff Carter would allow his ‘professional’ officers to behave in such an unprofessional manner. I will admit, having been in law enforcement for over 10 years, I have never seen or experienced such absentmindedness from a law enforcement officer.”
Davis has said that Sgt. Key used offensive language when speaking with him.
During the call, Ruby Davis tells dispatchers that her husband had hit himself in the head several times and “got himself bleeding,” and that he may be armed.
She said that her husband had advised her not to call 911 or he would kill himself.
“I don’t know what else to do,” she said in the call. “I mean he’s been hitting himself in the head.”
Later in the call Davis says, “I’ve never been afraid of him before tonight.”
Ruby Davis said in a phone interview Thursday that on the night of April 4 she was concerned for the health of her husband, and that he had been having problems with his blood sugar for some time.
At no point during the tape does Davis mention that her husband is a diabetic or may be having an imbalance in his blood sugar.
She said he’d been drinking, and at one point said she didn’t want to go into the bedroom where her husband was.
“I’m afraid to go in there because he’d get more agitated,” she said. “I don’t think he’d hurt me.”
Several times during the conversation, dispatchers asked Davis about guns, and if her husband was armed.
She never said definitely that he had a gun, but at least twice during the call she said she thought he had a gun or was in the same room with a firearm. She also never says during the call that her husband is locked in any room, which is stated in the written police report.
The Sheriff’s Office report said responding officers gathered at the end of Rowe Avenue near Sand Pit Road to decide how to approach the home, when Ruby Davis, who was outside hiding in a shed, reported that her husband had left the house and could be armed. She said he started walking into the woods near the home, the report said.
Officers escorted Ruby Davis from the property and, with her permission, secured three firearms inside the home. Officers confiscated two semiautomatic guns and a .38-caliber revolver and ammunition for each gun.
Tommy Davis came out of the woods and was taken to the ground by officers when he failed to comply with orders to show his hands, the report said.
Davis said he was sitting, unarmed, in a chair by his pool when officers confronted him and took him to the ground.
Davis suffered some minor scrapes and a small cut above his right eye, according to the report.
Davis said on Tuesday that he suffered the cut when he fell inside his home. His wife contradicts that statement in the 911 call, saying “he hit himself in the head and was bleeding.”
During Tuesday’s in-person interview, Davis had a visible bruise on his right arm and elbow and some small scabs on his elbow. He complained of a bruise on his lower right back near his waist.
He later submitted a photo showing a large bruise in that area.
Contact Tom Embrey at tembrey@thepilot.com.
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Comments
Mozambique 1 year, 1 month ago
Why on Earth is TODA a Republican? Most Democrats I know aren't as liberal as him.
JohnANagy 1 year, 1 month ago
Just fyi: the tape of the 911 call has been taken down temporarily for editing. It includes information from an EMS dispatcher, which should not have been released, according to state law. The Sheriff's Office is sending a new clip and we should have it up by later this morning or early afternoon.
soporesident 1 year, 1 month ago
Thanks john. I knew something was a miss. Wonder why on earth they released it in the first place. The pilot has a long run with putting up information on a story that should not be released!! Any postions open for editing! I have natural talent in this field!! Lol
GoldenDreams 1 year, 1 month ago
I am so disappointed in The Pilot. It's like you've got a story and you won't let it go. Don't we have enough information about the incident now? Are you trying to destroy a family? Let it go!
olebaldy 1 year, 1 month ago
I believe the 911 tapes are public record, or at least portions of them are. As for the Pilot trying to ruin a family, I disagree, Mr. Davis made some harsh and serious accusations against the Sheriff's office, the Pilot is just reporting the facts, in a non-biased fashion. Any conclusions that are drawn can now be based on the facts and not just Mr. Davis' side of the story. Again, I hope he seeks treatment and is blessed with his health again.
soporesident 1 year, 1 month ago
It is sad what makes the news and what doesnt. Prayers for all involved. Lets tackle something that has more to do with our county and states future. I normally buy a pilot every week but with the general focus on which it is I believe i will save my 50 cents
GoldenDreams 1 year, 1 month ago
Soporesident, well said. Moore County has so many issues that needs to be addressed. Let's address them! Enough with this 911 call that even Mr. Nagy said some parts should not have been legally released. All the best to Mr. Davis and his family. Let him continue his campaign based on the issues.
Courseaire 1 year, 1 month ago
Unfortunately, as Edwards, Weiner & Cain found out, their scandals became the only issue.
clbvpm 1 year, 1 month ago
@ oldbaldy - agreed
clbvpm 1 year, 1 month ago
Sorry, should have said " OLEBaldy", not "oldbaldy"...there is a big difference...of several years.
truthmatterstome2 1 year, 1 month ago
Although the Sheriff's Department failed to edit the call, The Pilot should have. Publishing the telephone number and address was certainly wrong. The Pilot jumped at the chance to question the character of a political candidate, when the issue wasn't about character, but mental or emotional stability.
Is the new editor looking for more sensational "news" in an attempt to sell more papers?
witness2 1 year, 1 month ago
The release of the 911 call did not come from the Sheriff's Office it was from the Moore County 911 Center. I doubt the Sheriff would release that due to the sensitive nature of medical information as well as address and phone number. The 911 communicators done an excellent job of getting information and keeping Mrs. Davis on the line trying to calm her fears. Why the 44 minutes response time?. Oh well at least the public now knows the truth about the call and info received about the situation the deputies were responding too. Did not hear anything about a low or high blood sugar in the call. Just sayin.
JohnANagy 1 year, 1 month ago
The 911 tape was pursued, obtained and published because the Davis family presented a story earlier this week that conflicted with the police report. Further comments online from Tommy calling into question key facts, officers' professionalism and the insinuation of politics forced us to seek the tape and gain clarification. We did not wish to elongate this situation, and we wish the Davis family only the best, as I highlighted in my blog post here.
GoldenDreams 1 year, 1 month ago
Mr. Nagy, I understand you work for The Pilot and wish to present a point of view that you believe differs with Mr. Davis's account of happened at his home. You even say you "pursued" it. What is bothering me is that you have done what you set out to do, so why keep at the story unless it is to sell newspapers or advance your online viewership? Once you cross that line, The Pilot becomes a tabloid newspaper, not a source of objective information. Since you plan to offer another edited version of the 911 call, when viewers already heard the entire call, what is the purpose? Does that "wish the Davis family only the best," as you claim? The information is out there. Why keep at it? Let The Pilot be a fine newspaper, not a source for derision.
herecomesthescience 1 year, 1 month ago
I applaud the Pilot. This is actual investigative reporting, and they did a good job. Tommy Davis decided not only to run for office and become a public figure, he relishes it. Anybody who reads the online edition and has seen his hundreds of comments, often posting his own phone number and calling out people to meet him in person or call him over any number of small or large topics. My point is that he chose to be in the public spotlight, and with enthusiasm I might add, and now an unfortunate event has happened in his life. But, when you choose the spotlight you can't start calling the shots of when it is on or off. It is sad to see, and I wish him well, but he chose this road, and now has to run on it.
clbvpm 1 year, 1 month ago
@ herecomesthescience - agreed
DaveyNC 1 year, 1 month ago
The Pilot did exactly what a newspaper is supposed to do. Had Davis not become a political candidate, this story would at most merit a line in the police blotter. But, he stepped out into public and then made it worse by telling a story at odds with the police version, prompting another round of reporting. Had Davis simply said, "I was sick and am now seeking treatment" that would have been the end of it.
Davis made this bed and now must lie in it. I hope he gets healthy soon.
hopeful 1 year, 1 month ago
The horse is dead, please stop beating it.........
SoPinesNo1 1 year, 1 month ago
Mr. Davis' version of what happened differs from both the police report and the 911 tape. Mr. Davis sees things through different eyes, just as he does with things going on in local government. For example, he still refers to the jail as a $55,000,000 facility, which is entirely incorrect.
I understand that Mr. Davis takes his own blood sugar readings, not Ms. Davis. But doesn't it seem odd that during the entire 911 call, Ms. Davis never mentions that Mr. Davis is a diabetic? The number of drinks that Ms. Davis says were consumed by Mr. Davis also differs from what he says in comments made on another thread on this issue. Apparently, one of them can't count, care to guess which one? Mr. Davis has a picture of himself in a choir robe as his avatar, If I'm not mistaken he has boasted about being a member of the First Baptist Church in Aberdeen on prior comments he has made in The Pilot. Why was he drinking at all, isn't that taboo for Southern Baptists?
lakeview 1 year, 1 month ago
soporesident - "Lets tackle something that has more to do with our county and states future."
I disagree with you. I think someone running for office to represent our county and state is and should be news. Lets say for one minute, Mr Davis' statement and charges against the Sherriff's Dept is true, then that is definitely news because you are dealing with another political representative of the county and state in Sherriff Carter.
True, its a sad situation and we don't like it in the sense it makes us all uneasy but it is the harsh reality of stepping into the (public) political arena.
native 1 year, 1 month ago
Mr Davis is running for public office. The public needs to know all they can about a public official. I believe that is why we have so many officials that we do not know untill they have office and then all this stuff we should have already know, comes out. Disclose, disclose,
soporesident 1 year, 1 month ago
In the fine line work of police work there will always be a nay sayer on how they handle a given situation. I believe this story desserves a merit but not what it has become. I support the officers duty and procedure given the recent outcome in our area. I understand and see the reasoning in the story but.... is that the only "important " issue at hand? I come here for news and current events. This seems to be more a gossip type of town. I see this as speculation point of view gossip. Let the parties involved handle their issues in a manner that is civil.
herecomesthescience 1 year, 1 month ago
soporesident: The irony here is that TODA himself was very often the person who would not let a topic die, or who would dig deeper into a dispute, and question just about everything in this forum. If this story was about any other politician in the area, you can be sure he would be on here blasting away with impunity, especially if it was one of the people or groups he regularly had gripes with.
lakeview 1 year, 1 month ago
soporesident- you do realize you are on the OPINION section, right. I mean you are reading the opinions on this particular issue. Not to quote Fox News but newspapers could say "we report, you decide. So, if you don't want to read about it, then don't. This story is merely one of many in today's edition.
Toda 1 year, 1 month ago
For all the arm chair quarterbacks, I have sent to David Woronoff a letter explaining my personal experience and views as well as health monitoring.
Anyone who would want a copy of my personal experience, just send me an email to toda1@mindspring.com
No questions asked or a reply other than an attachment. I think once readers have a timeline with my actual observations, "opinions" might be changed. Thus far I have 15 who have requested a copy.
If not, shut up about my family and me. None of your have any idea what your are talking about! Just jaberwocky!
And for SoPines who continues to hid in cyber world, I have for over 7years contributed my observations to The Letters to the Editor long before the Pilot Blog Rag.
I like any other American is concerned about spending by government. It's obvious Moore County is immune to budge considerations when tax money is concerned.
Scout 1 year, 1 month ago
The fact is we all face difficulties in our lives from time to time, none of us are immune. It is how we deal with the situations that knock us down that makes the difference. Attempting to focus the blame on The Pilot newspaper, the Moore County Sheriff's office or Sergeant Key is just sad. I, as well as alot of people, have heard the 911 clip. Honesty is still the best policy and would have gone a long way in preserving Mr. Davis' character. I could vote for someone who overcame an obstacle and was honest about it, but I can't vote for someone who won't accept responsibility. That is why this story is important. The public has the right to know, not so much about Mr. Davis' episode(that is unfortunate), but how he (as a political candidate) handled it. The amount of responsibility with which politicians are etrusted requires that they live under a microscope. If that seems unfair, then don't run for office, or, if you do, don't make a mistake and then deny responsibility for your mistake.