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Man Busted for 27,000 911 Calls

Prankster, who made bodily noises, did it 'because it's free'

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 16, 2008 7:06 AM CST
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(Newser) – Police in a San Francisco suburb finally got their man—but only after he made 27,000 prank 911 calls, often treating the operators to grunts and his impressions of bodily noises. John Triplette "completely overwhelmed our system," police tell the San Francisco Chronicle. Why did this criminal mastermind do it? "Because it's free," Triplette told police.

Police in Hayward, Calif., turned to the FCC for help in tracking down the cell phone making the calls, which began last May. Triplette, 45, now faces six months in jail (without a cell phone) and/or a $1,000 fine on a misdemeanor charge of abusing the emergency line.  No word on whether he was allowed a call after his arrest Wednesday night.

A Hayward, Calif., man was arrested Wednesday for making 27,000 cell-phone calls to 911 since last May. John Triplette told police he made the calls%u2014during which he mimicked bodily noises, talked in a disguised voice and used the keypad to making beeping noises%u2014because it's free.(AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
A Hayward, Calif., man was arrested Wednesday for making 27,000 cell-phone calls to 911 since last May. John Triplette told police he made the calls%u2014during which he mimicked bodily noises, talked...   (Associated Press)
The Clarity C420 cordless amplified telephone makes conversations clearer. (Photo
The Clarity C420 cordless amplified telephone makes conversations clearer. (Photo   (Associated Press)
Verizon lineman Clemente Calma installs fiber optic cable on a telephone pole in Massapequa Park, N.Y. in this file photo of May 11, 2006. Verizon is alone among the major phone companies in severing copper lines from telephone poles to residences. This cuts off a resident's ability to switch...
Verizon lineman Clemente Calma installs fiber optic cable on a telephone pole in Massapequa Park, N.Y. in this file photo of May 11, 2006. Verizon is alone among the major phone companies in severing...   (Associated Press)
A Verizon payphone is seen in Philadelphia, Monday, April 30, 2007. Verizon Communications Inc.'s first-quarter earnings fell 8.4 percent to $1.5 billion as the loss of income from some divested operations outweighed another strong showing by the telephone company's fast-growing wireless business. The profit for the first...
A Verizon payphone is seen in Philadelphia, Monday, April 30, 2007. Verizon Communications Inc.'s first-quarter earnings fell 8.4 percent to $1.5 billion as the loss of income from some divested operations...   (Associated Press)
A Hayward, Calif., man was arrested Wednesday for making 27,000 calls to 911 since last May. John Triplette told police he made the calls%u2014during which he mimicked bodily noises, talked in a disguised voice and used the keypad to making beeping noises%u2014because it's free.
A Hayward, Calif., man was arrested Wednesday for making 27,000 calls to 911 since last May. John Triplette told police he made the calls%u2014during which he mimicked bodily noises, talked in a disguised...   (Associated Press)
The T-Mobile Shadow is shown in New York in this Nov. 8, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, file)
The T-Mobile Shadow is shown in New York in this Nov. 8, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, file)   (Associated Press)
T-Mobile Shadow, Sage (Photo
T-Mobile Shadow, Sage (Photo   (Associated Press)
T-Mobile Sidekick LX in midnight blue. (Photo
T-Mobile Sidekick LX in midnight blue. (Photo   (Associated Press)
A Hayward, Calif., man was arrested Wednesday for making 27,000 cell-phone calls to 911 since last May. John Triplette told police he made the calls%u2014during which he mimicked bodily noises, talked in a disguised voice and used the keypad to making beeping noises%u2014because it's free.(Associated Press photo)
A Hayward, Calif., man was arrested Wednesday for making 27,000 cell-phone calls to 911 since last May. John Triplette told police he made the calls%u2014during which he mimicked bodily noises, talked...   (Associated Press)
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Related links

Some bizarre 911 calls (though not from this guy)
About.com

Woman dies after 911 operators don't believe boy's call
Associated Press

 
cell phones • 911 call • prank • Hayward, Calif. • California Highway Patrol • John Triplette

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