Crank call puts lives at risk

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

A crank call has wasted thousands of dollars in time and resources, upset many volunteer firefighters and put people’s lives at risk.

High Prairie RCMP and several other organizations responded to a 911 call March 5, says Cpl. Kristin Dowsett of the High Prairie RCMP.

“It was ridiculously inconvenient,” says Dowsett.

The call came in at 10 a.m. with the caller telling the 911 operator one of two people in the motor vehicle accident did not have any feeling below the waist.

It prompted High Prairie and Faust police, the High Prairie Fire Department, Grouard Fire Department, STARS Air Ambulance, High Prairie Ambulance, the M.D. of Big Lakes peace officer and Grouard Search and Rescue to respond. Graders from the M.D. of Big Lakes and Sucker Creek First Nation were also called to the scene reported because there was too much snow to reach the reported location.

“They told us they were south of the Grouard Bridge on Sucker Creek Reserve,” says Dowsett. “We spent three hours with many rescuers.”

Rescuers on foot and Ski-Doo also responded and began a search.

The two men were later found one kilometer from Ruby’s Gas Bar near Highway 2 several kilometers away.

“They were drinking,” says Dowsett. “Alcohol was a factor.”

Compounding the matter was STARS did receive another call while investigating the crank call and put on hold.

The only plus in the entire affair, says Dowsett, was how well everyone responded and worked together in an efficient manner.

“It was great to see everyone come together,” says Dowsett.

The men will not be charged with any crime.

“There’s nothing we can charge them with,” says Dowsett. “We couldn’t locate them. We didn’t enter into an investigation.”

High Prairie Fire Department deputy fire chief John McDermott says a lot of time, money and resources was wasted responded to call where ”two men were essentially stuck”.

“It came in as a 911 call of a single vehicle rollover,” he says. “It puts something of a sense of urgency.”

High Prairie firefighters alone spent four wasted hours on the call.

McDermott adds one man simply got cold and couldn’t feel his legs prompting the call.

“(We’re) very upset at the resources and effort put into finding a couple guys,” says McDermott. “Frustration levels are pretty darn high.”

McDermott adds cost to the High Prairie department alone is $4,000 let alone everyone else’s expenses.

“It was quite sad, really,” says McDermott. “We had this guy who had it justified in his mind it was acceptable to do.

“We had a lot of upset firefighters.”

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