Cops accused of making drunk prank calls to 911 operator
These cops are apparently veritable super troopers.
A sheriff’s deputy and a cop in Indiana allegedly made prank calls to an emergency dispatcher while getting boozed up at a house party – and were arrested after one call was traced to a phone owned by one of the officers.
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy David Needham, 39, and Cicero Police Officer Bradley Gorgas, 40, were charged with one misdemeanor count of false reporting after they were drinking alcohol during a party at Gorgas’ home on May 1 and decided to prank-call the county’s 911 dispatch center, according to court documents obtained by the Indianapolis Star.
While disguising his voice, Needham made the first call using his own phone and claimed to be a woman named Jessica who needed help with a boyfriend who was stalking her. Needham told a dispatcher that the man was walking on a roadway just north of Cicero, a town of 4,800 north of Indianapolis.
It was unclear whether police responded to the report, according to the newspaper.
About 10 minutes later, Gorgas reported 10 people being involved in a fight at a gas station in Cicero. It’s unclear what phone Gorgas allegedly used, but six officers responded to the location and found no disturbance, according to court documents.
Needham and Gorgas later admitted to making the prank calls during a meeting with Indiana State Police investigators on May 31. Needham said he had been drinking heavily and didn’t remember making the call until hearing his voice on the 911 tape, court documents show.
Needham remains on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation. It’s unclear whether disciplinary action was taken against Gorgas, according to the newspaper.
Needham and Gorgas, who could not be reached for comment, are expected to attend a joint initial hearing on July 11. If convicted, they could face jail time and a $1,000 fine.