Police in Ontario released audio of a 911 call from an angry man who called the emergency services phone line to complain about being awakened by an Amber Alert text, telling the dispatcher he doesnât care about an alleged abduction.
On Wednesday, Niagara Regional Police Services released audio of a brief conversation between a female dispatcher and an unidentified male, a day after a three year old was allegedly abducted in Sudbury.
âNiagara emergency, do you need police or ambulance?â the dispatcher asks.
âI wanna know who the hell is sending these alerts out,â the man snipped. âWhat right do you have to send an alert out to Niagara Falls, wake me up at five oâclock in the f***ing morning.â
The dispatcher clapped back.
âOK sir, itâs an Amber Alert for a child thatâs been abducted,â she said.
âI donât give a s**t! OK?â the man said. âAre you out of your mind?â
Police forces across the province have issued pleas to the public in the past for people not to call 911 to complain about the new alert system.
â911 is intended for emergencies only. Calling to complain about an #AmberAlert ties up precious resources for others who may need help,â Niagara police said on social media. âWe received 10+ complaint calls over yesterday's alert for a 3 year old child believed to be in imminent danger. #AmberAlertWorksâ
Police in Toronto echoed their fellow police forceâs sentiments.
âOnce again our Communications Centre has been receiving a number of calls from citizens using it as a platform to complain about being awakened by the Amber Alert,â police said. â9-1-1 is for EMERGENCIES ONLY.â
The child who was the subject of Tuesdayâs Amber Alert was found safe in Toronto.