TheDenverChannel.com










Denver News
E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters

Frantic 911 Call Released Involving House Speaker

Ex-Girlfriend Calls Police Asking For Help

A frantic 911 call from the girlfriend of Colorado House Speaker Doug Dean appears to reveal a panicked woman pleading for help. Gloria Sanak called 911 after she said that Dean (pictured, left) broke into her home. The out-of-breath Sanak told the dispatcher that "I had kicked out my boyfriend and he broke in one of the windows and he was waiting in the house when I got there." The dramatic recording was released by Denver Police on Wednesday after the Rocky Mountain News filed a public records request to obtain the tape. Sanek was crying and appeared to be gasping for breath as she urged the dispatcher to send help immediately. The sound of terror in her voice is unmistakable, according to the News. When the dispatcher asked Sanak if Dean was still there, Sanak yelled back. "Yes, yes," she said. The call was made on May 10 shortly after 1 a.m. Dean, R-Colorado Springs, told reporters last week that he wanted to get inside the house (pictured, right) to pick up his cell phone. He admitted using a screwdriver to jimmy a window in the basement of the house owned by Sanek. Police responded to the disturbance but made no arrests. The day after the incident, Sanek obtained a temporary restraining order, writing in a sworn affidavit that Dean was holding a screwdriver when she encountered him in her home. She wrote that he "chased" her down the street to her neighbor's house. The restraining order was lifted last week at Sanak's request. Sanek is a lobbyist who works with state lawmakers that Dean oversees. The two admitted living together but Dean said that he and Sanek broke up the night of the incident. Ellen Stein Wallace, who runs Safehouse Denver, said that she noticed three things about the 911 call: fear in Sanak's voice, claims that Dean broke into the house, and that Dean followed Sanak to a neighbor's house. "As I listen to this tape, the first thing that comes to mind is that the caller was clearly in fear," Wallace said. She was hesitant to second-guess police, but based on what she knows about the case, Wallace said that she thinks there should have been an arrest. "Given what we know about domestic violence, that's domestic violence," she said. 7NEWS reporter Lance Hernandez asked police if an arrest should have been made. "At that time, (Sanak) reiterated that no crime had been committed. Officers must base their decision on whether or not to arrest on the elements that exist and the information that was given at the time," Denver police detective Virginia Lopez said. Previous Stories: Additional Resources:

Links We Like
Sponsored Content
Find out what a sputtering economy and an increasingly difficult to crack job market means to you. More

Before you splurge on that pricey remodeling project, beware. It may not pay you back when it's time to sell. More

If you're looking to save on your next new vehicle, a low sticker price is just one aspect. Consider all the costs and make the right decision. More

Acupuncture, massage, or other complementary therapies could manage your type-2 diabetes. Find out whether they can help you. More

MyReport Network

E - News Registration focus group
  My Report Network: Tell your story on 7NEWS. Sign up to be a member of our My Report Network
Sponsored Links

MyReport Network

E - News Registration focus group
  My Report Network: Tell your story on 7NEWS. Sign up to be a member of our My Report Network