>
A Florida man was arrested Wednesday after placing two calls to 911 asking for a ride and saying he was hungry. Benjamin Dewer, of Delray Beach, Fla., according to a police report, was under the influence of alcohol and was charged with making a false 911 call. According to the Sun-Sentinel Dewer placed the call at 1:07 a.m. and police responded to the scene in the 1000 block of South Ocean Boulevard. There Dewer told the officer: “I need a ride to the park and I am hungry.” Instead he was arrested.
During the first call the 911 operator asks what the emergency is. The caller is heard saying, “I’m just hungry and trying to get back to my neighborhood. That’s all.” For Lt. Mark Woods, of the Delray Beach Police that is “not a reason to call 911.” Police say that bogus calls can clog up emergency call centers and tie up police on the streets.”It should be common knowledge by now for people not to call 911 for non emergency things,” said Lt. Woods. Dewer called 911 a second time after being told not to call again. On the second call he says, “I can’t walk no more. I haven’t eaten in days.”
The dispatcher responds, “I don’t know how to help you if you can’t help me find where you are at.” After that Dewer was picked up by police. Dewer appeared in court Thursday and plead guilty to misusing 911 and will spend ten days in jail. In recent months 911 has received odd calls by people complaining of being shortchanged Chicken McNuggets at McDonald’s , or being robbed by McDonald’s or not getting extra shrimp in a fried rice order . – foxdfdw
He needed help and he called and got it. Ten days of food and time to get sober. A good move on his part… but there should be a rehab center instead of prison. Has he no family? Can we do no better than prison for people who are lost, addicted and hungry? Who would Jesus jail?