Friday, December 31, 2010

Woman called cops to find out if it is still Christmas

A woman in Hertfordshire, England, called the local police emergency service to ask if it was still Christmas Day and to wish the police a Merry Christmas.

She called police on December 26th. There was clearly no emergency. After nonchalantly asking the emergency call-taker how he was, she then asked: "Is it still Christmas Day?" to which the man answered "No, it's Boxing Day."

The Police decided to release the recording as part of an appeal, particularly over the festive period, not to make crank calls, as it could put someone's life at risk.

The maximum penalty for hoax call offenses in the UK is up to six months in prison and a fine of £5,000.  (info from http://www.eitb.com/)

Hear the call on Youtube.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Man was bored, so he reported fake crimes to 911

A man in Clarksville, Tennessee called 911 three times Sunday night to report a murder and stabbing, setting off a four-hour, three-agency manhunt involving search dogs and a helicopter.

The reports were hoaxes.

Alex Baker first called 911 at 7:13 p.m. and said he witnessed a murder. Baker gave the dispatcher a description of a man in a white car, then hung up. The 911 staff made several attempts to call the number back, but calls went to voicemail.

At 7:26 p.m., dispatchers received a second call from an unidentified man who said he'd been pushed out a door, stabbed and was in a wooded area. The man then hung up.

In the third call, at 7:49 p.m., an unidentified man said he was in the woods dying and that Alex Baker killed his girlfriend and buried her.

All the calls originated from a phone owned by Alex Baker. The calls were pinpointed to the area where Baker lived. When police contacted Baker at his home, he denied making the calls and said he hadn't seen his cellphone for quite some time.

Several police officers, plus two deputies, a K-9 team, two Highway Patrol troopers and a Highway Patrol helicopter, were involved in a four-hour search of the wooded area.

Detective Eric Ewing determined that Baker had placed the calls, making up all of alleged crimes because he was bored and anxious after not having had a cigarette in two days.

Baker was charged with three counts of false report. His bond was set at $15,000. (info from http://www.theleafchronicle.com/ )