Kawartha Lakes police are reminding the public continued abuse of 911 calls is a criminal offence and can cause a serious delay for those in need of urgent assistance, after a 48-year-old Lindsay man is accused of making over 20 unnecessary emergency calls in the last three weeks.
At 6:28 p.m. on Saturday (January 28), police responded to a Lindsay Street South residence for the second time that day after a man called 911. Each time, the caller would not speak and hung up.
Further investigation confirmed the man had made over 20 emergency calls since January 13. Although police had given him a warning on two previous occasions, he continued to call 911 without any reasonable explanation.
Police have charged 48-year-old David Hulland of Lindsay with public mischief and harassing communications. He will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Lindsay on March 9.
A 911 emergency is when someone needs help right away because of injury of an immediate danger. Police say that, if you have called 911 accidentally, it is important to stay on the line to speak to a communicator to explain the error.
Every 911 call is taken seriously, and explaining the mistake can eliminate the need for the emergency communicator to call back. It is also important to ensure cell phones are locked to avoid accidentally calling 911.
For non-urgent reports to police, Kawartha Lakes residents should call the non-emergency line at 705-324-5252 or visit the Kawartha Lakes Police Service website at www.kawarthalakespolice.com.
