OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Metropolis Police Division has positioned officers on depart after stories of an April Fools’ Day prank that despatched squad automobiles in pursuit of a child being thrown out of a automotive earlier than the decision was revealed as a hoax.
Oklahoma Metropolis Police Capt. Valerie Littlejohn confirmed Monday that an inside investigation was ongoing however wouldn’t say what number of officers have been positioned on administrative depart or present particulars of the accusations.
“We’re conscious of a reported pursuit involving a few of our officers that included severe claims, which has since been decided to be false,” Littlejohn stated in an announcement. “We take this example significantly and are dedicated to making sure an intensive evaluation is performed.”
The investigation adopted revealed police radio audio from the night time of April 1, reported by Oklahoma Metropolis tv station KFOR and different stations, wherein a dispatcher says that the “metropolis simply suggested that the suspect threw a child out the window.”
“The police officer that’s in pursuit doesn’t have a radio. He’s simply messaging his location,” the dispatcher says.
After a lot of officers responded to the report, a dispatcher can later be heard saying: “It was an April Fools’ prank.”
One other dispatcher says: “Not humorous.”
A message left Monday with the president of Oklahoma Metropolis police union president searching for touch upon the incident was not instantly returned.
Oklahoma legislation makes it misdemeanor crime to report “knowingly false data which may end result within the dispatch of emergency providers from any public company.” Punishment is a high-quality of as much as $500 and an evaluation for any prices related to dispatching emergency personnel.