‘Drunken boater’ arrested after fabricating 911 water emergency distress call

Law enforcement officials in Vero Beach arrested a man they described as a “drunken boater” who fabricated a serious 911 distress call – just because he needed some assistance gassing up his boat.

Background: On the evening of June 23, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO) personnel responded to the Blue Cypress Lake area in Vero Beach, Florida, after receiving a distress call from a boater claiming involvement in an airboat accident. The caller reported that he had flipped his vessel, was injured and that his passenger was missing.

This serious report mobilized a large rescue effort, including IRCSO Deputies, Fire Rescue, the IRCSO Marine Unit, Florida Fish and Wildlife officials and even a United States Coast Guard Blackhawk helicopter dispatched from the West Coast of Florida.

Upon locating the boater, it was quickly determined that there was no crash, no missing passenger, and no injuries. Instead, the investigation revealed that the boater, identified as Dereck Howard of Vero Beach, had simply run out of gas and concocted the story to expedite assistance.

As a result of his actions, Howard now faces charges for misuse of 911 and filing a false report to law enforcement.

The Sheriff’s Office wants to remind the general public that this incident should serve as a reminder of the importance of responsible reporting to ensure that emergency services remain available for true emergencies.

For  more on the story, see the video accompanying this article.

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(Source and images of Dereck Howard: IRCSO)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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