Bryant called 911 day before sexual assault charge

Published 12:00 am Sunday, August 3, 2003

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Kobe Bryant called 911 the day before he surrendered to police on a sexual assault accusation and medics later treated a female at his home, officials said.

The Los Angeles Lakers' star hung up the phone without talking, but a dispatcher called back, speaking to three people, including Bryant, before sending police and paramedics, Sgt. Steve Shulman said. Medics arrived at 12:40 a.m. on July 3 and stayed 23 minutes.

Bryant made the call the day before he returned to Colorado to surrender to police after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman at an exclusive spa.

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Shortly after he called 911, medics treated a female at the house but did not need to take her to the hospital, said Vickie Cleary, emergency services manager for the Newport Beach Fire Department.

Paramedics were summoned to the house for a similar medical emergency on March 5, Cleary said. During that call, paramedics took a woman to the hospital after evaluating and treating her at the home.