A Florida man is facing the possibility of prison time for phoning in a phony report of an imminent murder in an attempt to get out of a speeding ticket.
West Melbourne police arrested Julius Lupowitz, who now faces up to five years in prison in addition to a $209 speeding fine, reports FOX19.
According to police, Lupowitz made the fake emergency call while West Melbourne police officer Ted Salem had his back turned as he was writing up a speeding ticket. Police say the man was hoping the officer would abandon writing the ticket in order to respond to the emergency.
In the phone call to a 911 dispatcher, a man told the operator, "There is a murder that's going to happen, I swear, on Wingate, on Wingate, on Wingate and Wickham. No, on Wingate and Hollywood. Definitely someone going to get shot. Please, please, Wingate and Hollywood. Please,” before hanging up.
Following the call, every available officer went to that intersection in West Melbourne.
Dispatchers then received a second call, “I swear, there’s going to be a murder any second. There’s a man and a gun. Please.”
After the caller hung up again, a dispatcher was able to trace the number to Lupowitz from a previous call and broadcast his name to responding officers.
Officer Salem, who was just about to respond, recognized the name and realized it was his speeder.
“When you take a phony incident, and you take those dispatches away from the ability to answer those calls that could put somebody that has a real emergency in danger,” said Police Lt. Rich Cordeau, of West Melbourne police.
“It almost worked,” Cordeau added. “The officer was trying to wrap up quickly to respond.”
Watch the video below from FOX19:
