Ohio Suspect Butt-Dials 911, Leads Deputies to Him

A man's cell phone led police to the home they say he tried to burglarize as well as to his hiding spot.
Feb. 7, 2013

SIDNEY, Ohio -- A burglar's cell phone led police to the home he tried to burglarize and straight to where he was hiding inside.

The incident began around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, when the Shelby County Sheriff's Office dispatched officers to the 500 block of Miami River Road in Sidney following an unusual 911 call.

Douglas Wolaver, 40, had broken a window to gain entry into a residence, officials said, when he accidentally dialed 911 from a cellphone in his pocket. A 911 dispatcher answered and triangulated the call's location. Deputies were notified of someone who might need emergency assistance.

When deputies arrived, they discovered a window was forced open and concluded someone was inside.

As they searched inside the residence, Wolaver's phone was continually beeping due to a low battery, leading police to his hiding spot.

Sheriff John Lenhart joked that the last time his deputies had to work this hard to solve a burglary, the suspect left his wallet behind.

Deputies who were on scene that night were not immediately available for comment.

Copyright 2013 - The Lima News, Ohio

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Sign up for Officer Newsletters
Get the latest news and updates

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Officer, create an account today!