LISTEN: 911 Call From Priest Stuck After ‘Playing’ With Handcuffs While Allegedly Wearing Gag

Well this is kind of embarrassing.

The pastor of St. Aloysius Church in Springfield, Ill., has been granted a leave of absence after he called 911 in November from inside the church and told a police dispatcher that he needed help getting out of a pair of handcuffs.

On the 911 tape from the Sangamon County Emergency Telephone System Department, Father Tom Donovan can be heard telling the male dispatcher that he is stuck in handcuffs and “I’m going to need help getting out before this becomes a medical emergency.”

The dispatcher pauses a bit and incredulously asks, “You’re stuck in a pair of handcuffs?”

“Playing with them, so I need some help getting out,” Donovan responds in a voice sounding like this tongue is slightly suppressed.

Donovan told the dispatcher that he was alone in the church’s front office, and seemingly ignored the question about his name. No information was given as to why he deemed the handcuffs to be a potential “medical emergency.”

As for his garbled-sounding voice, the Illinois Times reports that its sources claim the police discovered some sort of gag on Donovan upon their arrival.

Following the incident, Bishop Thomas Paprocki reportedly granted Donovan’s request for a leave of absence. His current whereabouts are unknown.

Listen to the 911 below, as provided by Illinois Times:

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!