Emergency Report of 'Hostage Situation" Was A Hoax
• Police Continuing Investigation; Officials Are Angered
Jan 25, 2012 – An emergency 911 call reporting a "hostage situation" in Nutley has turned out to be a hoax. Police Cnief John Holland said today that investigators are investigating the origin of the call and promises that if caught, the caller will be placed under immediate arrest.
The call was relayed to Nutley Police via the 911 system. Police responded to the Nutley location only to find that the alleged victim was a resident of Mt. Holly and has home "safe and sound and had no knowledge of the call."
Police detectives say that if the caller is identified, he or she will be charged with "making a false report and creating a "false public alarm."
"In this day and age, we must take every report seriously," Chief Holland said.
Public Safety Commissioners Alphonse Petracco said that "all calls for help are taken very seriously. When a caller attempts to send police on a fictitious call for help, several officers become unavailable to assist others who may really need help."
The emergency call received at 1 a.m. on Tuesday.
