Murphy Seeks to Dismiss 911 Lawsuit

The city of Murphy has filed a motion asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit that accuses 911 dispatchers and police of negligence.

The suit was filed last May by Ave and Michael Cantrell over the 2007 death of their 21-month-old son.

Their son, Matthew, accidentally strangled himself in a backyard soccer net on Oct. 2, 2007. After trying to revive him on her own, Ave Cantrell called 911.

She says dispatchers were not helpful and did not give her instructions on how to perform CPR despite her pleas.

The Cantrells also say police treated the situation as a crime.

But the city says officers arrived within minutes and found Cantrell hysterical. An officer checked to see if the child was breathing or had a pulse, the city said.

Officers secured the area as a crime scene until paramedics arrived minutes later after determining that the child was not breathing and did not have a pulse and after seeing obvious signs of strangulation on his neck, according to the city.

The city says its personnel do not bear responsibility in the child's death. City Manager James Fisher said the city will fight the suit if it is not dismissed.

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