911 is No Joke

If you've ever accidentally called 911, you may be able to sympathize with 18-year-old Rashon Downing's plight. Or maybe you won't, since his unintended call to 911 tipped off law enforcement to his alleged illegal activities.

According to a report from the , Downing, of the 200 block of Fornance St., was arrested shortly before 10 p.m. on Wednesday in the area of DeKalb and Elm streets after officers were alerted by a 911 dispatcher that she had received a call that seemed to be accidental, but in which she could hear a man and a woman discussing what sounded like a drug deal.

The dispatcher told police she overheard the man tell someone that if they "bought 50 dollars worth, he would throw in something special.” The dispatcher also allegedly heard the male tell someone he was “doing eight for 50,” apparently referring to crack cocaine.

Norristown Police Chief Russell Bono told , “They usually sell them for ten dollars, but he was offering eight for fifty. [He] must be having a sale.”

Officers traced the cell phone to the area of DeKalb and Elm streets and positioned themselves out of site nearby. Another dispatcher called the cell phone number and a man identifying himself as "Jamal Taylor" answered and asked the dispatcher if she wanted some "rock." The man directed the dispatcher to meet him at the corner of DeKalb and Elm streets by the "blinking light."

From their surveillance point, officers observed Downing, who was talking on his cell phone, walk down DeKalb to the corner of East Elm and look around. Downing flagged down a jeep travelling west on Elm and asked the driver "Is that you?" while still on the phone with the dispatcher.

The dispatcher then asked Downing to wave his arm so she could identify him. Downing was observed by officers waving his right arm above his head. Police moved in to apprehend him.

Once Downing was in custody, officers had the dispatcher call the number again and it rang to Downing's phone. A search of his person revealed a small plastic bag containing what appeared to be marijuana; a bag containing 22 small, blue and pink bags containing what appeared to be crack cocaine; a T-Mobile cell phone and a vanilla-flavored cigar. Downing was arrested and transported to the station to await arraignment.

At the station, officers tested the rock-like substance they believed to be crack and it did test positive for cocaine. Downing's property was then placed into evidence for further testing.