When John Dixon gave law enforcement dispatchers the wrong address, it may have cost him his life.
Dixon was attacked in the early morning hours of May 27, at his home at 627 E. Fourth St. He stopped breathing on the way to Memorial Hospital but was revived and taken to The Ohio State University Medical Center. Officials there determined he was brain dead. Dixon was kept on life support until family members could come to the hospital. Dixon died May 29, at The Ohio State University Medical Center.
Dixon’s roommate, Todd Michael Lane, 43, has been charged with his murder, as well as one count each of felonious assault and tampering with evidence.
Following an evening of drinking and listening to music, Dixon and Lane began to argue then fight at about 4:15 a.m. A female guest in the home tried to separate the men, but ended up with a slight injury. She then went downstairs to get another guest at the home, hoping he could break-up the fight. Lane allegedly bit that man on the face, pulled his hair and scratched him.
According to law enforcement officials, the fight ended and at 4:31 a.m. and Dixon used a cell phone to call 911.
“We’ve got a guy over her being just (expletive) totally insane,” Dixon told the dispatcher after she asked about his emergency.
“Ok. Where’s over here at?” the dispatcher asked.
“Uhm, 327, uhm, East Fourth Street,” Dixon said.
“East Fourth Street? 327?” Confirmed the dispatcher. “Ok. And what’s he doing.”
“He’s being a (expletive) idiot and attacking everybody,” Dixon responded.
On the call, Dixon confirmed Todd Lane was trying to fight with and had attacked him and others in the home. The 911 operator asked if Lane was “on something” or if he had a weapon. Dixon said he didn’t know.
The dispatcher asked if Dixon or the others needed medical attention.
“No. I don’t think so. I don’t think anyone needs a medic,” Dixon said. “I just need some assistance please.”
“And it’s 327 East Fourth. Is that your address?” the dispatcher asked again.
“Yes it is.” Dixon responded.
The dispatcher, who was located at the Union County Sheriff’s Department, then told Dixon she was transferring his call to the Marysville Division of Police. By this point, according to law enforcement officials, Marysville Police Officers were already being sent to the given address.
When the Marysville dispatcher takes over, Dixon tells her he is, “just fine”
“I’ve got a guy who wants to attack everybody and needs to be taken out,” Dixon explains.
He said Lane attacked him and another man, but said he doesn’t know if Lane has a history of violence.
“Where is he now?” the dispatcher asks.
“627 East Fourth Street,” Dixon answered.
On the tape Dixon can be heard asking the guests in the home to stay, but tells dispatchers they are leaving anyway. Dixon says Lane is upstairs in the home.
The dispatcher said she has officers in route.
“And where are you?” asks the dispatcher.
“627 East Fourth Street,” Dixon said.
“No. Right. But where are you? Are you inside? Are you outside?” asks the dispatcher.
Dixon said he is outside, wearing a black t-shirt and shorts.
At that point, 4:37 a.m., the dispatcher tells Dixon, “My officer is there. I am going to let you speak with him. Ok?
“Ok,” said Dixon.
Except that officers were not there. Officers were at the 327 E. Fourth St. address. They quickly determined they were at the wrong home and at 4:37 a.m., officials learned the correct address.
At 4:38 a.m., officers arrived at 627 E. Fourth St. and found Lane on the porch standing over Dixon. Lane ran into the home, resisted the officers and was forcibly arrested by two officers.
During the time it took officers to determine they were at the wrong home and find the right one, Lane had attacked Dixon.
“I don’t know for sure why he gave the wrong address,” Marysville Police Chief Floyd Golden said.
Leaders at each agency involved in the case say it is tragic that Dixon’s mistake possibly led to his death.
Sheriff Jamie Patton said the dispatchers followed the correct procedures. He said that once the dispatcher, who he called a good and experienced dispatcher, got the vital information, “they started the run.”
He said when the dispatcher felt the situation was stable and the call was “transferable,” she transferred the call to Marysville dispatchers.
Patton said if the phone call had come from a landline, the dispatcher would have known exactly where the caller was. He said dispatchers do have the ability to triangulate the location of a cell phone call, but they had no reason to do that in this case because Dixon gave and confirmed his address. Additionally, Dixon is calm on the call and says he does not need medical attention.
Patton said even if the dispatcher had triangulated the call location, the technology likely would not have gotten the exact address.
“Would it have helped in this situation? Possibly,” Patton said. “It probably would have told us it wasn’t the 300 block. It would have put us closer to the 600 block.”
He said the technology is most useful if a caller doesn’t know the area or cannot speak in the situation.
Golden said he doesn’t know how common it is for callers to give incorrect information but he and Patton said the situation underscores the importance of giving clear and correct information to dispatchers and to having a home that is clearly marked.
“In an emergency situation, any delay can be critical,” Golden said.
For the complete audio recording of the 911 call, go to the Journal-Tribune website at www.marysvillejt.com.