Someone has broken in ... I’m hiding in the closet
Sandra Bullock’s frantic 911 call as ‘stalker banged on bedroom door’
SANDRA Bullock hid in her bedroom closet and made a desperate phone call to police after a stalker broke into her Los Angeles home, a court heard.
The Oscar-winning actress took refuge when Joshua James Corbett allegedly vaulted over the fence of her Bel Air mansion and began wandering around with a two-page love letter in his hand.
Miss Bullock told a 911 operator: ‘I have a safe door in my bedroom, and I’ve locked it. I’m locked in the closet right now.’
A recording of the chilling 911 call was played at a court hearing on Thursday during which a judge determined that there was enough evidence against Corbett for the case to proceed to trial. The court heard that Corbett had on him a notebook containing magazine cutouts of Miss Bullock, some of which were of a sexual nature.
During the 15-minute phone conversation, which took place on June 8, Miss Bullock could be heard hyperventilating as Corbett allegedly banged on her bedroom door. The 50-year- old Gravity star, whose son Louis, five, was not at home that day, told the call-handler her name was ‘Sandra Bullock’.
The actress said: ‘Someone has broken into my house. I’m hiding in the closet.’ The operator asked: ‘They’re in the house now?’ Struggling to get the words out, Miss Bullock replied: ‘Yes. Yes, they are. I just saw them walk under the attic. I’m locked in my closet. I have a safe door in my bedroom and I’ve locked it. I’m locked in the closet right now.’
The operator said: ‘Okay. Don’t hang up. I’m going to be dispatching the police, okay? Don’t hang up on me.’ It was unclear whether she was hiding in a custom-made ‘panic room’ or if her refuge was simply a sturdy locked closet.
When a patrol car did arrive, Miss Bullock gave the operator the code to the gate. Once they were in the grounds the actress gave instructions on how to find her bedroom.
Miss Bullock told the operator: ‘I hear someone banging on the door.’ The 911 call-handler then radioed police saying the suspect was ‘attempting to gain entrance to the bedroom’. The call ended with Miss Bullock realising the police were inside. ‘It’s them,’ she said, sounding very relieved. ‘Thank you.’
Giving evidence during the hearing, police officer Jose Bermudez said that after being arrested Corbett told him: ‘I’m sorry, I love you Sandy.’ He had allegedly been stalking her for days. Security footage showed the 39-year-old outside Miss Bullock’s gate on each of the three days before his arrest.
Los Angeles detective Christina Carlozzi read entries from Corbett’s notebook and a letter he wrote the day before he was arrested. He called Miss Bullock his wife, professed his love, said he wanted to sleep with her and noted the security measures at her home. ‘There are two large impervious gates that no one can open but you,’ his note said, adding: ‘I hope one day you open them to me.’
Corbett has denied burglary, stalking and firearms charges after authorities allegedly found weapons at his home. His lawyer said he was under the delusion that he was married to Miss Bullock and was trying to deliver her a love letter. The case continues.