911 Call Reveals Details Of Possible Sighting Of Marino Suspect
Madison Man Killed In January
Updated: 3:29 pm CDT May 17, 2008
MADISON, Wis. -- WISC-TV has obtained a copy of a call to 911 about a possible sighting of a man suspected in the slaying of Joel Marino.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportMarino, 31, was found slain outside his Madison home in January.Just more than a week ago, the police captain of the district in charge of the homicide investigation defended the officer response to the call.WISC-TV's Linda Eggert got the tape of the call from 911 under the Open Records Law.The caller, whose name and number were redacted from the recording WISC-TV received, anonymously complained to the Isthmus newspaper last week that police didn't do enough after he called in a suspect sighting.The tape reveals that two officers were immediately sent to the sighting location, though only one officer actually proceeded to check the area, for five minutes, before being sent to another call.The tape also reveals that the name "Marino" was never specifically mentioned throughout the transmissions.The transmissions began when a 911 caller told a non-emergency "call taker" that he was the key witness to a homicide suspect and that he had just seen the guy again.Male Caller: "Can you send a police car up Park Street from Parr Street? You know that murder investigation we have going on here?"
Operator: "OK, Park from where?"
Caller: "Park and Parr. There's two guys walking up there, and one's got that like tan coat on, and I was the person that saw him the first day."
Operator: "And they're walking on Park Street?"
Caller: "Correct, on Park Street. They'd probably be about by Lakeside now, going up that side."The next audio on the tape is of the dispatcher contacting officers and giving them information about "two suspicious males walking northbound on Park Street.""Caller thinks that they are possibly part of a murder investigation. We're not quite sure what they're actually talking about," the operator told the officers being dispatched.The officer who searched for the "suspicious" persons later labeled the call "unfounded."Marino was stabbed to death in his West Shore home around 1 p.m. on Jan. 28. A witness report lead to a sketch of a white suspect wearing a tan coat who was last seen near Parr and Park streets.Capt. Jim Wheeler, of the south district in charge of the Marino case, has told WISC-TV that he has no concerns about the police response."After listening to how the call was dispatched, I am comfortable with the response of the officers," he wrote. "With the information we had at the time, I believe the response was adequate and appropriate."WISC-TV has not yet had the chance to get the perspective of 911 officials on the call.
Operator: "OK, Park from where?"
Caller: "Park and Parr. There's two guys walking up there, and one's got that like tan coat on, and I was the person that saw him the first day."
Operator: "And they're walking on Park Street?"
Caller: "Correct, on Park Street. They'd probably be about by Lakeside now, going up that side."The next audio on the tape is of the dispatcher contacting officers and giving them information about "two suspicious males walking northbound on Park Street.""Caller thinks that they are possibly part of a murder investigation. We're not quite sure what they're actually talking about," the operator told the officers being dispatched.The officer who searched for the "suspicious" persons later labeled the call "unfounded."Marino was stabbed to death in his West Shore home around 1 p.m. on Jan. 28. A witness report lead to a sketch of a white suspect wearing a tan coat who was last seen near Parr and Park streets.Capt. Jim Wheeler, of the south district in charge of the Marino case, has told WISC-TV that he has no concerns about the police response."After listening to how the call was dispatched, I am comfortable with the response of the officers," he wrote. "With the information we had at the time, I believe the response was adequate and appropriate."WISC-TV has not yet had the chance to get the perspective of 911 officials on the call.
Previous Stories:
- May 16, 2008: Madison Police Invite Slaying Victim's Father To Meet
- May 9, 2008: Marino's Grandmother Says She's Frustrated By Madison Police
- May 9, 2008: Marino Family Meets With Attorney General
- May 3, 2008: Slaying Victim's Father Wants State Help In Investigation
- April 14, 2008: Jam Session Raises Funds For Marino's Favorite Programs
- March 17, 2008: Marino's Family Concentrates Efforts Downtown
- March 11, 2008: Marino's Friends, Family Grateful For Any News On Investigation
- March 11, 2008: Police Release New Details In Marino Investigation
- February 27, 2008: Police: Person Of Interest In Marino Death Is Suspect
- February 25, 2008: Candlelight Vigil Gives Peace In Marino Case
- February 14, 2008: Marino's Stepmother Speaks Out After Stabbing Death
- February 9, 2008: Reward Fund In South Side Slaying Increases To $40,000
- February 5, 2008: Authorities Hope Billboard Generates Leads In South Side Stabbing
- February 4, 2008: Friends, Family Hope Flyers Will Spur Someone's Memory In Marino's Death
- February 2, 2008: Funeral Held For South Side Stabbing Victim
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