A Guttenberg man has been charged with misuse of a 911 emergency line after having an overreaction to a lit scented candle that included fabricating mental health issues and the need for a fire department response, police said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Earlier today, Alfredo Gonzalez, 34, of Guttenberg, walked into the Guttenberg Police Department to speak with officials from the Public Safety Office, according to Police Lt. Aleksandar Ramadanovic.
During his time inside the Guttenberg PD, Gonzalez expressed concern over the lighting of an in-door scented candle.
Due to this concern, he contacted the Hudson County 911 Emergency Communications Line to request North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue respond to address the issue.
During this call, Gonzalez fabricated the need for a fire department response, regarding a non-emergency.
Additionally, he requested an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response to conduct a mental health evaluation of an individual because they lit the scented candle and then fabricated mental health concerns to urge the response further.
All of the associated 911 call recordings were gathered and reviewed. Following the investigation, Gonzalez was charged with making false public alarm/misuse of a 911 emergency line a fourth-degree crime, and a complaint warrant was issued for his arrest.
Shortly thereafter, Gonzalez continued to call 911 regarding non-emergent parking complaints, at which point members of the Guttenberg Police Department successfully apprehended him on the active complaint warrant.
He was then transported to the Guttenberg PD for his arrest processing. Upon the completion of his arrest processing,Gonzalez was issued his complaint warrant and then lodged in the Hudson County Correctional Center.
If anyone has any information pertaining to this incident, they are encouraged to contact the Guttenberg Police Department at 201-868-3300 or email Lt. Steven Diaz at sdiaz@guttenbergpolice.org or Det. Sgt. Marcin Rysiec at mrysiec@guttenbergpolice.org.
“This is a perfect example of the misuse of the 911 emergency communications line, which is solely intended for members of the public to report and request immediate responses from first responders to protect life, property, and ensure the safety of the public,” Deputy Chief Frank Pelaez said in a statement.
“Individuals who seek to engage in this type of behavior are only stressing the already inundated systems in place that we all rely on to provide the best services possible. Fabricating mental health concerns and attempting to elicit emergency responses without basis can lead to devastating consequences and will not be tolerated.”
