Story Archive

Butt-Dial

The cases are so routine now, it’s hardly news when a criminal unknowingly pocket-dials 911 on his cell phone while planning a robbery with an accomplice, and the plans are recorded by police. But in this case, in Danville, Ky., the chief of police was eating in a restaurant, and Brothers BBQ owner Mike Southerland noticed Chief Tony Gray got a call on his cell phone. “I see Tony’s police face come on, so I knew something was up,” Southerland said. The chief was informed that one of the plotting criminals mentioned Southerland’s name — and then the call was finally traced to the restaurant where the chief was. An officer was sent to back up the chief. By then the two with the open phone line were in the parking lot, and the officer and the chief were able to confirm they were the ones with the open phone line, and arrested them — for public intoxication. Prosecutors will listen to the recorded call and decide on further charges. (RC/Danville Advocate-Messenger) ...Sadly, public obliviocy is not a crime in most states.