On November 25, around 9:30 a.m., Montgomery County Dispatch received 13 emergency 911 phone calls from the same cell phone number near. originating in the 100 block of Sawdust Road in Spring. Each time the caller dialed 911, they hung up as soon as the call was answered. The caller then sent an emergency text message to 911 stating there was an active shooter at a nearby business.
Deputies assigned to the District 2 Patrol Division quickly arrived at the location and saw no emergency situation, which indicated the caller falsely reported the active shooter to elicit an emergency response. District 2 Detectives identified the caller as 27-year-old Francisco Hernandez from Houston. The investigation revealed Hernandez made 44 emergency phone calls to Montgomery County Dispatch within the last two months.
On Thursday, MCSO Detectives obtained a warrant for Hernandez’s arrest. They took him into custody for False Report to Induce Emergency Response. Hernandez was also wanted on a Harris County warrant for Harassment. He was transported and booked into the Montgomery County Jail.
The abuse of 911 services is not only illegal, it also needlessly increases the danger to both law enforcement personnel and the public, due to emergency driving and diverting resources from genuine emergencies. It is essential to use 911 services responsibly and only in cases of actual emergencies to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved.
