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Delaware State Police
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Smyrna Man Charged with Reporting Numerous False Reports to Police Released Friday, October 24, 2008 Smyrna – The Delaware State Police have arrested a 37-year-old Smryna man for his involvement in making seven separate false 911 calls from August 2006 to October 14, 2008. The case was recently solved after an incident that occurred on October 14, 2008 at approximately 1:30 am. In this case, someone called 911 and reported an armed suicidal subject was inside a residence in the unit block of India Drive. When police arrived to investigate, they learned the home was unoccupied and discovered an empty beer can and backpack on the ground in front of the home next door. This caught the attention of the investigating trooper because police dispatchers informed the trooper the caller sounded intoxicated. As the trooper investigated, they found a wallet inside the backpack belonging to Damon W. Bethel, 37 of the unit block of India Drive. The trooper then observed a subject watching through a window (looking at the trooper) of the home where the backpack was found. Consequently, the trooper shined his flashlight in that direction and the person ducked away out of view from the window. The trooper knocked on the front door of the home and contacted Mr. Bethel who appeared intoxicated. During a conversation with Mr. Bethel, the trooper learned Mr. Bethel was outside earlier in the morning around the same time when the 911 call was made. As the investigation continued, the trooper contacted Mr. Bethel’s parents who also lived in the home and subsequently learned that they have another son and that the 911 caller gave the same name as the other son. Moreover, the parents listened to the 911 call made and both positively identified the voice as their other son, Damon Bethel. Further investigation revealed Mr. Bethel was responsible for an additional six falsely reported incidents. They are described below: - On 08/13/06 at 0320 hrs, a 911 call was received with the caller reporting that he had killed his wife and daughter. The caller reported that he was located at a residence in the unit block of India Dr. - On 01/22/07 at 0406 hrs, a 911 call was received with the caller reporting he was stabbed with a location in the unit block of Bangalore Ct. - On 01/23/07 at 0245 hrs, a 911 call was received with the caller reporting a domestic incident occurring at a home in the unit block of India Dr. - On 02/05/07 at 0538 hrs, a 911 call was received with the caller reporting he had ingested pills to commit suicide. The caller advised he was in a field, determined to be located behind a home on India Dr. - On 05/15/07 at 0241 hrs, a 911 call was received with the caller reporting shots fired and a burglary in progress at a home in the unit block of India Dr. While speaking with the resident, a second call was received from a male stating he had been shot and was in a black truck across the street from a home on India Dr. All of these incidents were investigated by DSP and were found to have been falsely reported. As a result of these incidents, Mr. Bethel was arrested yesterday and charged with seven misdemeanor counts of Falsely Reporting an Alleged Incident to Law Enforcement Agency which Did Not Occur. He was released on a $3500.00 unsecured bond.
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