9-1-1 telephone audio of hostage incident when an Arlington Heights police officer was shot an critically injured and a female victim as held hostage by ex-boyfriend Eric Anderson.
Arlington Heights Police Department and Northwest Central Dispatch System released 9-1-1 audio today which included the telephone calls from a home in the 1900 block of Windham Court; from a hostage victim’s father, who was receiving text messages in Las Vegas; and from the female hostage’s friend in Palatine, who was also receiving text messages about a hostage situation in which an Arlington Heights police officer was shot.
In the audio, a woman calls 9-1-1 to report someone, who “won’t leave us alone” has entered the home and has a gun. Shots are heard in the background. Dispatchers try to get a description of the offender.
Eric Anderson shot Arlington Heights Police Officer Michael McEvoy, 52, after McEvoy entered the home — responding to a report of a “man with a gun,” according to Arlington Heights Police Department.
In the audio, the gunman, Eric Anderson, also calls 9-1-1 and tells the dispatcher that he just shot a cop. He says he is in the basement, and also warns that if anyone else comes into the home he will shoot them.
An Arlington Heights Fire Department Deputy Chief happened to be on the block and worked with other police officers to rescue officer Michael McEvoy. The first police officers on the scene and the deputy fire chief are credited with saving his life.
Police also released several 911 recordings from the stalking victim’s father in Las Vegas, who was in contact by text messaging with his daughter during the standoff. The father told dispatcher that his daughter wrote that “they” could see her through a window well. The dispatcher and the father assumed that “they” were the police. The suspect wanted police to give him a cell phone, possibly to call his mother after his own cell phone’s battery went dead.
Police report the standoff ended about 10:30 p.m. — the time when reporters and bystanders across Palatine Road at a safe distance heard three gunshots. Anderson and his female hostage had moved into the attached garage, and she was able to break free and was not injured. NIPAS Emergency Service Team police officers (SWAT) then confronted and fatally shot Anderson, after he made an aggressive move with the weapon, according to police. He was transported by Arlington Heights Fire Department firefighter/paramedics to Northwest Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 11:00 p.m.
EARLY ANALYSIS OF 9-1-1 CALLS …
1. First caller hears “cop” at door as early as 1:12 into the 9-1-1 call (FAST RESPONSE).
2. Shots are apparently fired before police arrive during 9-1-1 call.
3. First caller says, “And who are you?” as police apparently arrive (WHO IS SHE ASKING?).
Neighbors say the stalking victim’s mother lived at the home with the home’s owner. The stalking victim’s father — divorced from her mother — lives in Las Vegas and was in Las Vegas at the time of the hostage/shooting incident. The home on Windham Court in Arlington Heights was apparently the safe harbor for his daughter to avoid contact with Eric Anderson, who had an order of protection directed at him after the woman ended the relationship on November 25, 2013. After the end of the relationship, the victim reported being stalked by Anderson electronically, stalked at her work, and stalked when she visited her friend’s house.
Get updates from The Cardinal CRIME BLOG ‘Plus’ on Facebook. Just ‘LIKE’ the ‘Arlington Cardinal Crime & Forensics’ Page (become a fan of our page). The updates cover all posts in the 24/7 Crime Alerts! and sub-categories. See all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages at Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …