Post by WaTcHeR on Mar 10, 2006 13:23:04 GMT -5
03/10/2006 - A man who called Bexar County's 911 center for help ended up getting arrested himself.
Chris Barnes said he called 911 last Sunday afternoon when his neighbor's target-practice gunfire started flying over his property. Barnes was promised a visit from a Bexar County sheriff's deputy, but no one showed up after nearly two hours.
Later, when the shooting stopped, Barnes tried to call 911 back and tell them not to send the deputy. Each time, Barnes got an answering machine and hung up.
"I called three times, that I know of, three times, I get an answering machine, and I'm trying to say, 'It's been two hours, they're not shooting anymore, don't worry about it, it's all diffused,'" Barnes said.
Eventually a 911 operator called Barnes back, and he explained he was just calling them to call off the deputy. Later, a deputy came and arrested Barnes.
"Misuse of 911 calls," Barnes said. "(They) handcuffed me, I got a twisted ankle." Barnes spent the night in jail, paid $215 to bond out, and missed a day of work.
"If I had been arrested for something I didn't do, I would probably be upset, too," said Capt. Brianne Lunan, head of the Bexar County 911 center.
Lunan admits the center made a mistake, and is looking for help from the county to streamline the system.
"We know what the problems are and we are doing what we can to fix it with what we have," Lunan said.
Lunan said they are requesting more funding in the county's budget, more tweaks in the 911 system, and more call takers to make sure callers will get a live person every time, although that can't be guaranteed.
Meanwhile, although the charges against Barnes were dismissed, his $200 bond is still out the window, along with his respect for law enforcement.
"Every time I see a cop now, I'm like 'you sorry...'," Barnes said. "It's not just me being upset. It's watching my kids see me getting handcuffed, when I try to tell them, 'Hey, the police are here for us.'"
Chris Barnes said he called 911 last Sunday afternoon when his neighbor's target-practice gunfire started flying over his property. Barnes was promised a visit from a Bexar County sheriff's deputy, but no one showed up after nearly two hours.
Later, when the shooting stopped, Barnes tried to call 911 back and tell them not to send the deputy. Each time, Barnes got an answering machine and hung up.
"I called three times, that I know of, three times, I get an answering machine, and I'm trying to say, 'It's been two hours, they're not shooting anymore, don't worry about it, it's all diffused,'" Barnes said.
Eventually a 911 operator called Barnes back, and he explained he was just calling them to call off the deputy. Later, a deputy came and arrested Barnes.
"Misuse of 911 calls," Barnes said. "(They) handcuffed me, I got a twisted ankle." Barnes spent the night in jail, paid $215 to bond out, and missed a day of work.
"If I had been arrested for something I didn't do, I would probably be upset, too," said Capt. Brianne Lunan, head of the Bexar County 911 center.
Lunan admits the center made a mistake, and is looking for help from the county to streamline the system.
"We know what the problems are and we are doing what we can to fix it with what we have," Lunan said.
Lunan said they are requesting more funding in the county's budget, more tweaks in the 911 system, and more call takers to make sure callers will get a live person every time, although that can't be guaranteed.
Meanwhile, although the charges against Barnes were dismissed, his $200 bond is still out the window, along with his respect for law enforcement.
"Every time I see a cop now, I'm like 'you sorry...'," Barnes said. "It's not just me being upset. It's watching my kids see me getting handcuffed, when I try to tell them, 'Hey, the police are here for us.'"