Cost — at least $10,000. Hoax report of girl in distress in water prompts expensive search in Port Angeles

PORT ANGELES — A hoax on April Fools’ Day tied up police and Coast Guard resources for a half-hour and cost at least $10,000 before it was determined to be a prank.

At 7:42 p.m. Wednesday, a cellphone caller told Clallam County emergency dispatchers that a 15-year-old runaway girl was in distress in the water of Port Angeles Harbor near the Rayonier property at the northern end of Ennis Street, said Brian Smith, Port Angeles deputy police chief.

Port Angeles police and Elwha tribal Fish and Wildlife officers searched from the shoreline.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

A 45-foot rescue vessel and a Dolphin helicopter were launched from Coast Guard Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles on Ediz Hook in the search.

Police Sgt. Glen Roggenbuck, who was the incident commander, determined the call was a hoax and called off the search at 8:11 p.m.

The call was made on a Verizon cellphone, and the reporting person claimed to be calling from the Port Angeles City Pier, Smith said.

Police think they know who made the call — an adult man— but are continuing to investigate.

“There may be extenuating circumstances,” Smith said.

The case will be forwarded to the county prosecuting attorney’s office for a decision as to whether to file charges of false reporting, he said.

The cost of operating a Coast Guard response boat is $9,006 per hour, and a helicopter costs $12,151 for each hour in the air — bringing the Coast Guard cost of a half-hour search to $10,578, according to Petty Officer 1st Class George Degener, spokesman for the Coast Guard in Seattle.

Smith had no estimate Thursday of the cost for Port Angeles police.

“We did the normal level of response,” he said.

No costs were available from the Elwha tribe.

Smith pointed out that several city police and tribal officers were called away from other duties, Smith said.

The half-hour search was expensive, but ultimately, the more important issue was tying up rescuers who might be needed elsewhere, Degener said.

“These calls are very serious,” he said.

“When we are out searching for someone in a hoax-type situation, it takes away from someone in real trouble.”

________

Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Parker Brocious, 6, from Cedar Hills, Utah, studies tubs containing plankton, krill and other small ocean creatures used by the Port Townsend Marine Science Center for education purposes while on a road trip with his family on Tuesday at Fort Worden State Park. Parker’s father Tyler is at left. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Science education

Parker Brocious, 6, from Cedar Hills, Utah, studies tubs containing plankton, krill… Continue reading

Port Angeles approves lodging tax fund requests

Vacancy on committee brings legal questions

OMC hires family medicine physician

Dr. Calvin Kuo will join hospital in August

Colton Dufour, left, and his mom Cherie Tachell. (Cherie Tachell)
Boy seriously injured following hit-and-run

Condition is stable, but more testing underway for Sequim teenager

Applications open for Forks council seat

The Forks City Council is accepting applications to fill a… Continue reading

Bridge inspections set on Hood Canal

Bridge preservation engineers from the state Department of Transportation will… Continue reading

Port Townsend Farmers Market opens Saturday

Farm-fresh eggs, mexican pastries and smoked fish available

Adella Banning, 6, of Port Angeles pretends to take to the road on a all-terrain vehicle maintained by Clallam County Search and Rescue during Saturday’s Kiwanis Kids Fest at Vern Burton Community Center and a section of adjoining Fourth Street. The event featured numerous public safety displays as well as other youth activities hosted by area community service agencies. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Kids Fest

Adella Banning, 6, of Port Angeles pretends to take to the road… Continue reading

Clallam letter details Trump administration impacts

Clallam cites economy, tourism, healthcare

Rhonda Kromm is the new Port Angeles School District assistant superintendent. She replaces Michelle Olsen, the newly hired superintendent.
First bonds issued for develop plans for PAHS, Franklin Elementary

Construction at new Stevens Middle School to start in May

UPS Store closing Port Angeles location

UPS is closing its UPS Customer Center at 3216… Continue reading

Single-lane traffic near Kalaloch Campground

Erosion near Kalaloch Campground has caused a temporary lane closure… Continue reading