Rob Low, edited by Meagan Kelleher
9:46 PM CST, November 8, 2010
"He didn't commit a crime," Elizabeth Hershley said. "You go to jail when you commit a crime, he called for help."
PLATTE CITY, MO - What an Air Force veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder calls a cry for help, Platte County prosecutors call a crime and want the Iraq war veteran to serve a year in jail for causing a stand-off with police.
Zachary Hershley says he suffered a flashback episode caused by post-traumatic stress disorder on April 23, 2010. Hershley admits he was drunk when he dialed 911 at 2 a.m., telling a dispatcher, "I'm the guy with the gun...I suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder because I killed a f----ing bunch of god d--n kids."
Hershley was armed with a gun while he was on the phone with dispatchers. At times, during the 911 call he implies he needs his gun to protect himself from enemy forces in Iraq, telling a Swat Team negotiator, "I'm going to kill somebody that tries to kill me."
When the negotiator asked Hershley why somebody would want to kill him, Hershley responded "cause they're f---ing after my ass because I killed their cousins."
Hershley's wife Elizabeth also called 911 that night. Elizabeth told dispatchers that her husband thought his father was an Iraqi enemy soldier.
"Hi, my husband just called in there," she can be heard on the tapes. "My husband, he's got PTSD and he's kind of on a rampage, he doesn't, he thinks he's in Iraq right now."
She can be heard on the 911 tapes telling her husband, "Zac it's me, it's Liz. You need to go to the hospital. Yes, you do!"
Hershley's father Roy said his own son didn't recognize him that night. Hershley eventually gave up that night and was taken to a hospital for psychiatric treatment. Hershley says he doesn't remember calling 911, but after hearing the tapes, he says it was clearly a psychotic flashback.
"I know I'm slipping and that was basically my last cry out for help," he said.
Veteran Suffering From PTSD Faces Jail Time for 911 Call
To JAG (ret)
ReplyDeleteYou left four comments that needed moderation since this is an old post. Please figure out what one you want posted and try again.