The Clark County sheriff’s deputy fired for failing to respond to a 911 hang-up call violated three of the agency’s policies when he canceled the call, minutes before attending a pre-arranged lunch, according to an internal investigation report.

Three days later, deputies found a couple dead from an apparent murder-suicide in the same Fargher Lake-area home where the call originated.

Ed Bylsma was fired Sept. 9 after an internal investigation concluded he failed to perform the basic duties of a deputy, failed to perform his duties in a competent manner and failed to promptly respond to calls in a timely manner. His termination has been challenged by the Clark County Deputy Sheriff’s Guild.

The Columbian attained a final report summarizing the agency’s internal affairs investigation into the matter through a public records request. The document outlines the incident as follows:

When dispatchers first received a hang-up call from 38302 N.E. Mint View Road minutes before noon on March 28, they called back and spoke with a man at the residence. When the dispatcher asked if everything was OK, the man said his wife had accidentally called 911. Upon further questioning, which included the dispatcher asking to speak to his wife, the man answered as if he didn’t understand and hung up.