Police surrounded the home for hours after a man allegedly threatened a woman and held children inside, authorities said.
According to court documents, Donvon Privette allegedly threatened to shoot the woman and attempted to stop her from calling 911. However, someone else inside the home texted 911, leading to Privette's safe arrest.
The incident highlights the Text-to-911 feature used by the Raleigh Police Department and the Wake County Sheriff's Office, a tool that advocates and law enforcement officials say can save lives in dangerous situations.
"Well, we see scenarios of where someone has broken into someone's house. They're hiding in a closet. Obviously, they don't want to be detected by a perpetrator. So they're texting. In domestic violence situations, that same scenario, they may have the opportunity to walk into a bathroom and close the door and text and not be heard talking to anyone," Maj. Chris Creech of the Wake County Sheriff's Office said.
Creech said people using Text-to-911 do not need to send a lengthy initial message. Instead, he said, providing a location should be the priority.
"And the most important thing, the first text, you should send is where you are. We can't help you if we can't find you," Creech said. "So we need to know where you are. What address are you at? If you don't know the address, can you give us cross streets of what's near you? The description of a building that you're inside of, a car that you're inside of."
After establishing a location, dispatchers can continue the conversation through text messages and ask follow-up questions. Officials advise users to keep messages brief and concise. Photos and videos can also be sent if they help investigators understand the situation.
"You don't have to know any other number. You don't have to do anything special. The same 911 ... Just a safer way when the moments count," Creech said.
Creech also said the service can help deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals receive assistance more quickly.
"Yes. Yes, it does. Because in that scenario, that's going to speed up us getting help to you. Because if we have to go through a language line or specialized equipment to interpret, then it, that would actually speed up that process. It would speed up us getting the information that we need and getting help to you," he said.
Authorities have not released additional details about the incident on Pin Oak Road. The case serves as an example of how Text-to-911 can provide a discreet way to reach emergency responders during situations in which speaking on the phone may not be safe.
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