Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
A 44-year-old Pompano Beach woman accused of placing 15 calls to 911 laced with racial slurs was ordered by a Broward judge Wednesday to not dial 911 for non-emergencies and to undergo a mental health evaluation.
The woman was arrested Tuesday and charged for misusing the 911 system after allegedly calling police for no apparent emergency 15 times between 4:40 and 9 p.m. Monday.
Investigators claim the woman was on their radar for calling 911 an estimated 1,000 times in recent months.
Before Tuesday’s arrest, the woman allegedly dialed 911 around 100 times on March 20.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, they tracked the woman down using two cellphone numbers the woman had previously used. They asked employees at the woman’s apartment complex to call if she walked into the rental office.
After the woman stepped into the office Tuesday, police were notified and arrested her.
While non-emergency phone calls made to 911 may seem innocent, police claim these calls are actually a real problem and can serve as a distraction from true emergencies in need of immediate assistance. In fact, calling 911 for any other reason than to report an emergency situation could result in criminal penalties. Abuse of an emergency line like 911 is actually a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Following an arrest for a misdemeanor in Florida, you will want to review the Florida criminal guidelines to understand the full scope of what is at stake in your particular case. The Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can provide you with the specific details related to a misdemeanor offense in Florida. When facing any type of criminal charges a legal team is always your best defense. A criminal defense lawyer can investigate the particular facts of your case and possibly find ways to beat your Florida misdemeanor charge.