The 9-1-1 call made at the scene of the brutal assault on Jacob Showalter provides a glimpse into the fear and confusion surrounding that fateful night.

“Hi, I need an officer here immediately. I’m on the corner of Main and um... there was a really bad fight that just broke out,” the caller said.

The caller went on to describe the scene.

“There’s a guy – I think his neck is broken – he might be dead,” the caller said. “He’s losing a lot of blood.”

Showalter was beaten unconscious and had his head stomped on after leaving a Main Street party during the early morning of Sept. 7, witnesses say.

A witness placed the 9-1-1 call to the Isabella County Sheriff’s department at 1:59 a.m.

According to a report from Isabella County Central Dispatch, a unit from the Mount Pleasant police department arrived within 40 seconds.

The 9-1-1 tape was obtained by Central Michigan Life from Central Dispatch through a Freedom of Information Act request.

As screams and voices in the background of the 9-1-1 call became louder, the caller’s voice grew more hectic, making some of the words inaudible.

“The person you said is down, who is that,” the officer said.

“I don’t know who he is,” the caller said.

“Ma’am, ma’am listen to me: Is he breathing?” the officer said.

“I don’t know, he’s trying... he’s fighting for his breath,” the caller said.

Mount Pleasant Police Department public relations officer Chuck Morrison said the police report is scheduled to be sent to the prosecutor’s office this morning.

“We want his opinion on what to release because he may have some more things he wants us to investigate and we will wait for him to review the report before we give an official release,” he said.

Morrison would not disclose the entire report at this time and would not release any information regarding suspects in the case.

The department is in the process of finishing interviews with people, Morrison said, and then it will be up to the prosecutors to make a decision on what charges will be filed.

“I know a lot of information has been gathered and will be available by the end of the week,” he said.

Morrison said tips and interviews have led the police to Gratiot, Isabella and Midland counties.

More than 30 interviews have been conducted in the investigation, he said.

Mayor Adam Miller said the Mount Pleasant Police Department is doing a fine job regarding the investigation.

“We are deeply troubled that the assault occurred,” he said. “However, I have faith and confidence in the Mount Pleasant Police Department that they will bring the perpetrator to justice and justice will be served.”

Miller said he first heard of the assault when he read about it in CM Life.

“I’m not typically notified of a crime,” he said. “We are a community of 25,000 — if I was notified of every crime that happened in the community, I would be on the phone all the time.”

Miller said the assault was an isolated crime of a magnitude that rarely happens in the community.

“In the scheme of things, Mount Pleasant remains a very safe community for students and family,” Miller said.

Vice Mayor Matthew Showalter said he is disappointed the assault happened in the community.

Matthew Showalter denied comment on public safety but said the police department is going through the indicated process and will make an arrest when it is warranted.

Matthew Showalter said he was out of town when the incident occurred and didn’t hear about the assault until it was released in CM Life.

“As a city commissioner we are not actively informed of any crime,” he said. “We don’t get involved in the day-to-day operations when any crime happens in the city so there was no difference in this case.”

Editor’s Note: Central Michigan Life chose to not reveal the identity of the witness who placed the following call which was transcribed by CM Life. The 9-1-1 tape was obtained by CM Life from Isabella County Central Dispatch through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Transcript of the 9-1-1 call

9-1-1 Dispatch: Isabella County 9-1-1.

Caller: Hi, I need an officer here immediately. I’m on the corner of Main and um... there was a really bad fight that just broke out. 9-1-1 Dispatch: Main and where ma’am? Caller: Um, I can’t read the sign. 9-1-1 Dispatch: Main and where ma’am? Caller: Main and Cherry on the corner of Main and Cherry. There’s a guy — I think his neck is broken — and he might be dead.(Whimpering) 9-1-1 Dispatch: What is your name? Caller: (Answer removed by CM Life) 9-1-1 Dispatch: (Response removed by CM Life) Caller: Yes. (Heavy breathing and yelling) 9-1-1 Dispatch: What is your cell phone number? Caller: (Answer removed by CM Life) (Screaming in background) Caller: He’s losing a large amount of blood and... (inaudible) 9-1-1 Dispatch: OK, we have officers on the way, OK? Is there weapons involved? Caller: (Inaudible) 9-1-1 Dispatch: Is there weapons involved ma’am? Caller: I don’t see any weapons. 9-1-1 Dispatch: OK, the person you said is down, who is that? Caller: I don’t know who he is. 9-1-1 Dispatch: Is he breathing? Caller: (Inaudible) 9-1-1 Dispatch: Ma’am, ma’am listen to me. Is he breathing? Caller: I don’t know, he’s trying ... he’s fighting for his breath. 9-1-1 Dispatch: OK we got officers on the way OK ma’am? Caller: Please hurry he’s ... (inaudible) 9-1-1 Dispatch: Ma’am we have officers on the way OK? Caller: OK. 9-1-1 Dispatch: OK good-bye.

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