MASON CITY – A jail cell was waiting for a Mason City woman for at least the fifth time for essentially harassing our emergency responders.
Police were summoned to 240 6th Street SE on the evening of March 7 after a number of 911 calls were made by a resident there. Finally, police determined that 64-year-old Alma Melinda Shafer “called 911 a couple of times knowing it was not an emergency”. She was arrested and taken to jail.
This practice is not a new occurrence for Ms. Shafer.
On the afternoon of April 24, 2015, officers went Shafer’s home and arrested her for misuse of 911 communications and false report to law enforcement.
According to police, Shafer dialed 911 at least 10 times on the evening of November 6, 2014. A dispatcher continued taking the calls, and officers were sent to her home. After an investigation, Shafer was arrested and taken to jail for dialing 911 with no emergency. Alcohol may have been a factor in the incident, police said. She was jailed for one day.
Shafer was at it again on November 13, 2014, dialing 911 and making false reports to law enforcement. She was jailed and later pled guilty. She was ordered to pay $465.00 in fines and court costs.
Shafer pled guilty in 2013 to the same crime, dialing 911 with no emergency, after being charged by Mason City police. She was fined for her actions.
alcohol is a everyday part of Alma’s life. 5th time?? she had more 911 charges then that in the 90’s
It sounds more as if she needs alcohol rehab along with psychiatric treatment. She’s definitely wanting attention.
Obviously, mental illness comes into play here. She needs help, not jail.
Whoa there, slow down with the common sense now.