Crime & Safety

Alexandria Police Miffed at Release of 911 Call in Lodato Killing

Police Chief Earl Cook 'shocked'; release could "hurt investigation,' police spokeswoman says.

The City of Alexandria released the 911 call from the Ruthanne Lodato shooting, and that apparently came as a surprise to the Alexandria Police Department, according to a police spokeswoman.

The Washington Post filed a Freedom of Information Act request for audio of the call and received it "probably from the City Attorney's Office," said Crystal Nosal, public information officer for the police department. 

Lodato was killed with her mother and a caretaker in the home. In the 911 call, a neighbor is talking to police after being notified of the shooting by the caretaker, who brought Lodato's mother with her. The, caretaker, who was injured, runs back to the Lodato home. 

Nosal said the police department "did not know" the audio had been released until they received a phone call from a reporter about it and said they would not release the audio. Patch left a message with the City Attorney's office Thursday.

Audio of the 911 call was sent to The Washington Post "inadvertently," from the Alexandria City Attorney's Office, after they filed an FOIA request, said Corine Parks, a paralegal there.

"It will not be released again, it was a mistake," she said. 

According to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, "911 records are presumed open under Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-3706.G., but personal, medical or financial information is those records may be withheld if the safety or privacy of any person is jeopardized."

"It was a clerical error," Nosal said. "It was given out inadvertently, probably from the city attorney's office, and the police department wasn't informed."

Nosal said "somebody with the city had to contact the Alexandria Office of Emergency Communications. They should have known better." 

Alexandria Police Chief Earl Cook, "was shocked," said Nosal, adding that there is concern about how release of the audio might impact the investigation.

Meanwhile, officers were out Thursday, two weeks after the shooting, in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred on Ridge Road Drive. Officers set up roadblocks to hand out flyers to drivers.

"People have patterns," Nosal noted. "It's the same time period" of the shooting. Police were called to the home Thursday, Feb. 6 at about 11:30 a.m.

In all, Alexandria police have received about 500 tips so far from the general public, she said.

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