Prank 911 calls claim black man stabbed white woman in Lakeview, similar calls reported rape

For the last couple of months, Chicago police officers, who already have their hands full, have been hit with the added pressure of dealing with fake 911 calls.

The prank calls logged by Chicago News Report, have been concentrated in the area of West Irving Park Road to the north, West Grace Street to the south, North Halsted Street to the east, and North Sheffield Avenue to the west. 

Thursday, at approximately 8:46 p.m., someone claimed a man attacked a woman at Halsted and Broadway, in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.

The alleged female victim was described as a white woman wearing a pink shirt - and the alleged male offender was described as a black man wearing a backwards baseball cap.

The initial 911 call said the man attacked the woman, because she wouldn’t have sex with him.

A second 911 call indicated the man stabbed the woman, and claimed a second male black offender was at the scene with a gun.

Investigators said they received similar prank calls throughout the day.

Back in June 2011, someone reported at rape behind Gill Park.

A female 911 caller said a bald black man, wearing a black and white checkered coat, raped a woman behind the field house.

Hardworking officers spent their precious time investigating the call; which turned out to be a hoax.

Later that same night, another prank call claimed the same black man, wearing a black and white coat, tried to drag a woman away from a bus stop at Sheridan and Irving Park Road.

All of the calls were fake, said police.

So why haven’t these prank callers been arrested?

The calls are untraceable, because they are being rerouted through another number.

Police explained how the calls are made, but Chicago News Report made the editorial decision not share that particular information, because we don’t feel comfortable telling people how to commit a crime; which is exactly what prank 911 calls are.

Not only are these prank calls a waste of valuable resources, they are creating potentially deadly situations, fueled by racial stereotypes and fear.

Let’s hope the idiot or idiots behind these calls are caught, before someone gets hurt.