Man Arrested After Calling 911 Over…Scented Candle

Yes, this is a real story.

A New Jersey man, Alfredo Gonzalez, found himself behind bars after a series of non-emergency 911 calls, the first of which involved a complaint about a neighbor lighting a scented candle indoors. Gonzalez, 34, contacted the Guttenberg Police Department to express his concerns about the candle but took the situation further by fabricating a need for emergency medical services and claiming that the individual who lit the candle required a mental health evaluation.

According to the Guttenberg Police, Gonzalez falsely reported that the neighbor’s actions were dangerous and warranted the involvement of both emergency medical services (EMS) and the fire department. However, upon arrival, authorities quickly determined that the situation had been exaggerated and that there was no actual emergency.

In response, police launched an investigation into Gonzalez’s misuse of the 911 emergency line. Following a review of the recorded 911 calls, they issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of making a false public alarm and misusing the emergency communications system, both classified as fourth-degree crimes.

Despite the investigation, Gonzalez continued to make additional 911 calls, this time regarding parking complaints that were again deemed non-emergent. His repeated misuse of the 911 system led to his eventual apprehension on the active warrant.

Guttenberg Police Lieutenant Ramadanovic expressed his frustration with the situation, highlighting how fabricating emergencies, especially involving mental health concerns, puts unnecessary strain on emergency response systems. “It’s just a shame that people have used the mental health system and try to fabricate mental health emergencies in order to cause issues. That’s not what our purpose is for; our purpose is to help people,” he said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Deputy Chief Frank Pelaez also weighed in, stressing the importance of reserving 911 calls for genuine emergencies. “This is a perfect example of the misuse of the 9-1-1 emergency communications line, which is solely intended for members of the public to report and request immediate responses from first responders,” Pelaez noted in a press release.

The Guttenberg Police Department is now encouraging anyone with further information about the incident to come forward. Gonzalez’s actions serve as a reminder of the consequences of fabricating emergencies and the strain it places on essential services designed to protect the public.