Thread: Serial crank caller miffs Bay Area 911

VALLEJO, Calif. - A serial crank caller using a donated cell phone has plagued 911 with nearly 2,000 fake emergency calls over the past six months, tying up dispatchers and sending police and firefighters on wild goose chases, authorities said.

A man identifying himself as Nomar started making the calls in March, according to the California Highway Patrol, which handles most of the wireless 911 calls for the San Francisco Bay area.

Nomar has reported himself the victim of everything from a drug overdose and a possible heart attack to robbery and attempted suicide. Officials said they didn't know why nearly all the false emergencies he calls in purportedly take place in Vallejo, a city of about 100,000 along the waters north of San Francisco Bay.

"He can be quite convincing and he definitely knows the geography of Vallejo," said Vallejo police spokesman Bill Powell. "If we can't determine it's a false call, we'll send people out."

Investigators analyzed the cell phone signal to track the caller to an area in San Francisco but have not been able to obtain a more precise location. The CHP determined the phone originated with a company in Oklahoma that donated old employee cell phones to an organization that distributes them to the homeless.

The phone has no service carrier, which has prevented investigators from discovering any further personal information about the caller. The man has been able to continue making the calls because 911 calls are free even from cell phones without paid accounts, authorities said.

Each crank call could result in a single misdemeanor count of a false emergency report to a public agency, and investigators were documenting all the calls in hopes of eventually prosecuting the man, Powell said.

"People like him prevent real emergencies from getting through quickly," CHP spokeswoman Mary Pat Marshall said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070903/ap_on_fe_st/ca911_pranks;_ylt=AvVRJsLnMLv3nYms_RvUQsQsQE4F

Since all cell phones still dial 911, it is amazing that there is not more of this reported.

"Iron" wrote:

Since all cell phones still dial 911, it is amazing that there is not more of this reported.

Most people aren't that big of assholes.
I hope they find this guy and charge him with all 2000+ counts.

On second thought, it is entirely possible that "Nomar" is mentally disturbed.
The cell phones were distributed to the homeless, and unfortunately, many of our nation's homeless have some kind of mental sickness.

"NodakPaul" wrote:

"Iron" wrote:

Since all cell phones still dial 911, it is amazing that there is not more of this reported.

Most people aren't that big of donkey butts.
I hope they find this guy and charge him with all 2000+ counts.

On second thought, it is entirely possible that "Nomar" is mentally disturbed.
The cell phones were distributed to the homeless, and unfortunately, many of our nation's homeless have some kind of mental sickness.

sorry, I am not that optimistic.

They'll catch him eventually and the phone he is using will be his downfall.
;D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_phone_tracking

"Marrdro" wrote:

They'll catch him eventually and the phone he is using will be his downfall.

;D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_phone_tracking

We can only hope they catch this loser soon.