mantriumph
10-11-2007, 10:30 PM
BALTIMORE — Dorchester County sheriffs officers took a Taylor's Island man into custody this morning after he reportedly made a false distress call that resulted in a search and rescue effort, Coast Guard officials said.
The hoax caller called Dorchester County 911 as well as Coast Guard Sector Baltimore at about midnight and reported his vessel was taking on water in the Honga River near the Narrows Ferry Bridge.
The Coast Guard sent a 25-foot boat from Crisfield and a helicopter from Atlantic City. Deputies from the Dorchester County Sheriffs Office, two Maryland State Police helicopters and volunteer fire companies from the Hooper's Island and Taylor's Island stations also took part in the search.
The hoax caller is being held at Dorchester County Detention Center in Cambridge. He was not identified.
Under federal law, knowingly and willfully making a false distress call is a felony. The maximum penalty for making hoax distress calls is five to 10 years in prison, a $5,000 civil fine, a $250,000 criminal fine and reimbursement to the Coast Guard for the costs incurred responding to the false call.
Coast Guard C-130 aircraft cost about $12,451 an hour to operate, Coast Guard helicopters range from $6,000 to $9,500 an hour, Coast Guard cutters cost about $14,000 an hour to operate and Coast Guard small boats also cost $600 an hour to run, officials said.
The hoax caller called Dorchester County 911 as well as Coast Guard Sector Baltimore at about midnight and reported his vessel was taking on water in the Honga River near the Narrows Ferry Bridge.
The Coast Guard sent a 25-foot boat from Crisfield and a helicopter from Atlantic City. Deputies from the Dorchester County Sheriffs Office, two Maryland State Police helicopters and volunteer fire companies from the Hooper's Island and Taylor's Island stations also took part in the search.
The hoax caller is being held at Dorchester County Detention Center in Cambridge. He was not identified.
Under federal law, knowingly and willfully making a false distress call is a felony. The maximum penalty for making hoax distress calls is five to 10 years in prison, a $5,000 civil fine, a $250,000 criminal fine and reimbursement to the Coast Guard for the costs incurred responding to the false call.
Coast Guard C-130 aircraft cost about $12,451 an hour to operate, Coast Guard helicopters range from $6,000 to $9,500 an hour, Coast Guard cutters cost about $14,000 an hour to operate and Coast Guard small boats also cost $600 an hour to run, officials said.