(SOUTH HURON, ON) – Huron OPP officers were successful in tracking down four youngsters that were making prank 911 phone calls to police, fire and ambulance dispatchers. On April 21, 2012 around 3:15 p.m. dispatchers started receiving prank phone calls ranging from a house fire, a robbery and injured persons needing medical assistance. Around 4:30 p.m. officers located two 8 year olds, a 9 year old and a 15 year old behind an elementary school in Exeter. Officers determined the 15 year old male was breaching his probation order and was arrested. A search of the 15 year old resulted in officers locating a small quantity of an illegal drug.
A 15 year old from South Huron has been charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Breach of Probation. The other youngsters were transported home and warned about their behaviour.
Huron County OPP warns that not only will you face potential criminal charges for intentional misuse and abuse of the 9-1-1 system; it could also result in a slower OPP response to a real emergency risking the safety of people who may need urgent help.
9-1-1 lines are for emergencies only and are often a person’s lifeline for urgent assistance. Don’t tie up the line for a non-emergency prank call.
