TAZEWELL, Va. -
A University of Virginia-Wise student faces charges of falsely reporting a gunman on campus. Bryant Alexander Hairston of Martinsville is charged with falsely summoning police.
Closer to home, just 3 weeks ago, a bomb threat was made at the Tazewell County Courthouse. 59 News wants to know what the consequences are of these hoaxes being made.
"Jail time. That should be the punishment for something like that," said Jaime Richards.
"They shouldn't even be here, I mean really. They should be in jail," Kayla Whitt said.
County Chief Deputy Harold Heatley who explained the consequences of Bryant Hairstons' actions.
"He faces a multitude of misdemeanor charges initially. Then if there was someone who was injured or there was property damage in the process of responding, that person would face additional charges. Up to felony charges," said Heatley.
For the man who called in the bomb threat in Tazewell County three weeks ago the penalty is larger. Heatley walked through the differences between a bomb threat.. And a hoax.
"If you call and you threaten to burn, bomb, or kill... it automatically becomes a felony. If you call in a hoax, such as there's a gunmen loose at UVA-Wise. They don't consider that a specific threat to kill," Heatley said.
If someone makes a prank call such as hoax they're putting those with real emergencies in jeopardy.
"Our 911 dispatch center takes approximately 150,000 calls annually. Approximately 30% of those calls are classified as emergency calls."
He explained those calling in a hoax or pranks could be stopping Emergency Services from saving someone.
"If you do have a true emergency and you're dialing 911 and you can't get through, it may be because someone is playing. And that could cost a life."
Chief Deputy Heatley urges those who don't have a true emergency to call non-emergency lines instead of 911.
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