Kanawha County Sheriff's Office: November 29, 2021: Arrest For False 911 Call

Press release from the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office:

November 29, 2021

On November 25, 2021 Corporal J. W. Eary of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle speeding in South Charleston, WV, on I-64 near mile-marker 55.  There were four occupants of the vehicle, and Cpl. Eary noted the odor of alcoholic beverages from inside the vehicle.  Several occupants seemed inebriated.  Before asking the driver to participate in field sobriety tests he returned to his cruiser to request backup to watch the occupants during any roadside tests.

While awaiting other units to arrive a robbery was reported in South Charleston.  A man called 911 saying two black males had robbed a gas station off the nearest exit to Cpl. Eary’s traffic stop.  Cpl. Eary told dispatchers in light of the robbery that just occurred the police officers responding to assist him could discontinue and instead be free to handle the more pressing emergency.  However, dispatchers noted the phone that dialed 911 to report the robbery was located on I-64 near Cpl. Eary’s traffic stop, not near the store that was allegedly robbed.

Law enforcement officers from Charleston PD, South Charleston PD, and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office arrived and assisted with detaining the four occupants of the vehicle.  When dispatchers called the phone used to dial 911 to report the alleged robbery, a phone in the back seat of the stopped vehicle began ringing.  Both occupants who’d been in the back seat denied it was their phone.  One of those occupants offered his own phone in his pocket as proof.  Cpl. Eary asked if that occupant would call the phone belonging to the other back-seat occupant.  When the man did, the phone in the back seat rang again. 

That phone belonged to Matthew Hammack, 27 of Charleston, WV.  Mr. Hammack was arrested, charged with falsely reporting an emergency.  Attached is a mug shot taken during his arrest last week.  As is always the case in criminal matters, the charge against Mr. Hammack is merely an accusation.  He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The driver of the stopped vehicle passed field sobriety tests and was cited for speeding before continuing his drive. 

The cooperation of multiple law enforcement agencies, and the awareness of dispatchers with Metro 911, prevented many police cruisers from dropping other duties to respond to a false robbery call.  

This press release was produced by the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office. The views expressed here are the author’s own.