DPD charges one adult, two juveniles after investigation

On Oct. 18, the Demopolis Police Criminal Investigations Division signed an arrest warrant for one adult and arrested two juveniles for calling in three prank emergency calls to Marengo County E-911that caused the Police and Fire Departments to be dispatched.

Demopolis Public Safety Director Tommie Reese said the first call was about a traffic accident involving numerous vehicles an injuries at Third Avenue and E. Pettus Street. Upon arrival of police, fire and EMS personnel, there was no sign of an accident in the area.

Approximately 45 minutes later, there was a call referencing a person being assaulted on E. Pettus Street. The caller stated that a male subject was being assaulted and needed help. DPD officers were dispatched, but upon arrival did not find anyone in the area.

The final call to 911 was later in the night and the caller stated that there was a break in at Slab and More BBQ on E. Pettus Street. The caller stated that they saw a male break into the building and they were still watching the subject in the building. Upon officers arrival they found the business secure and determined that no break-in had occurred.

Chief Reese said that investigators went to work the following day on locating the person or persons who made the calls. DPD Investigators were able to track the phone call and locate the individuals obtained a signed arrest warrant for Lamar Kirk, 20, of Demopolis, who is currently being held in the Greene County Jail. The police also arrested two underage juveniles whose cases will be handle through the Marengo County Juvenile Court.

Reese said the police and fire departments will be requesting restitution through the courts for the prank calls.

“To some this may have been fun and games, but these calls put our first responders lives at risk and could prevent our dispatchers from dispatching an actual emergency call in a timely manner. It is bad enough when there’s an actual emergency that put our first responders at risk, but it would not be funny if they lose their lives or cause an innocent life to be lost because of a prank emergency call.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, December 6 print edition of the Demopolis Times.)