Police: Man Has Been Making Phony 911 Calls For 23 Years

INDIANAPOLIS -- All Indianapolis police had to go on was a voice, but investigators said they've arrested a man suspected of making phony calls to 911 for the past two decades.

Most recently, operators had recorded four separate calls from the same man, each reporting fires at homes in the 3400 block of North Baltimore Avenue, 6News' Jack Rinehart reported. On Thursday, arson investigators and U.S. marshals arrested Ricky Jones, 37, on four misdemeanor counts of false informing.

"You're alleged to have been calling in false alarms for about 23 years, and we're done with you," Lt. Scott Robinett with the arson division told Jones as he was handcuffed.

Arson investigators said they believe Jones' phony calls included fire and medical emergency calls to the Pike Township apartment of an ex-girlfriend in 2007.

"He'll call in armed robberies in progress. He'll call in police officers who've been shot and down," Robinett said.

So far, Jones is only preliminarily charged in connection with the four most recent calls, during one of which police said he told the operator that his home was on fire and that his children were inside.

"I need the fire department at 2731 N. Baltimore fast. My house is on fire, and my son is in there and my baby is in there," the man said. "They cannot get out, and I can't get back in. The whole front of my house is on fire."

Fire investigators said they are relieved to have Jones behind bars.

"What it does for us, it helps protect the citizens of Indianapolis and the firefighters responding on the runs. They're out of harm's way now," said Capt. Rick Linter.

False reporting is punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.