Man who called in false claim of drowning children to face charges

Man who called in false claim of drowning children to face charges

Tate cited for wild goose chase in Lakeshore that cost thousands

news@theeveningtimes.com

The man that called in for a rescue for kids drowning in the Lakeshore community lake around 9 p.m. on July 11, was all wet when responders arrived. Joshua Tate said he had tried swimming to rescue kids he had seen go under. But after an exhaustive and expensive multi-agency search and investigation, the sheriff said the whole story was all wet, too.

In the aftermath of the costly search, the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department obtained an arrest warrant for the man.

Deputies arrested Tate, 33, of Marion, Wednesday afternoon on a charge of Communicating a False Alarm that Causes Action by an Official or Agency.

“On Tuesday, night we received a call from man who claimed he saw some kids in the water,” said Allen.

“He said he saw kids in the water and he eventually said swam out a little ways. He reported he’d seen them drowning and go under.”

The square-shaped manmade lake surrounded by the second largest mobile home community in Arkansas is mostly shallow at four feet deep with some spots as deep as eight feet.

The shallow lake was formed as fill dirt was mined from the spot when the Interstates were originally built. The depth was enough water that rescuers took the call seriously in the unincorporated area of the county surrounded by West Memphis and Marion. “We responded with multiple agencies,” said Allen.

Fire departments from West Memphis and Marion made the scene. Crittenden County Search and Rescue, Arkansas Fish and Game was called out along with the county emergency manager, sheriff deputies and detectives. Marion Police and Highway Police patrolled the neighborhood.

Extra 911 dispatchers were called in to handle the flood of emergency radio traffic, curiosity callers and media inquiries. Memphis Police Aviation searched the lake, circling overhead for an hour. It’s Air 1 worked well after dark as it was equipped with nighttime surveillance equipment.

“It has nighttime flare on it,” said Allen. “It’s not real deep water, so if we had a drowning victim the flare would pick up the body heat for a sense of where to look. The only heat source they got was from the game and fish boat that was at the center of the lake. The game and fish also have sonar on board to get images of the bottom. They combed the lake and wasn’t anything to indicate anybody was in the lake. The flare showed the sonar as the only heat source.” The helicopter cost $550 for the hour-long flight over the lake.

“I talked to Lt. Max Howard of Memphis Police Aviation,” said Allen.

“There were two pilots sent, Pilot Officers Casey Kirby and Shane Haines.

Their rate is $550 which is what they charge MLGW to inspect power lines.”

County Search and Rescue did some drags, which would have recovered a body, said the sheriff, but that effort also turned up nothing.

“That helicopter is amazing it can find the heat signal of a rabbit in a field,” said Allen.

Rescuers turned into searchers as they went house to house around the lake talking to families to make an account for all the neighborhood children.

There was only one child that mom hadn’t seen for a while.

“We checked every trailer around the lake,” said Allen. “A woman said her autistic son left the house at 5 p.m. We found him alive and well at the Marion Mc-Donald’s during that time frame. He wasn’t actually missing. No other children were reported missing. ”

“We took it seriously and with all diligence exhausted all resources to determine the information was unfounded,” said Allen as he announced charges against

Tate.

The efforts were not limited to search but also an investigation. Tate’s mobile home backs up to the water’s edge.

“We interviewed Tate,” said Allen. “He had been in the water and was wet. Our certified Drug Recognition Officer determined he was under the influence of some kind of narcotics. That’s the opinion of our D.R.E., that he was under the influence of narcotics.”

This is not Tate’s first drug-related run in with the law. He was also arrested in February for felony possession of drug paraphernalia.

Allen tallied up the search expense of $3,216 for the three hour inter-agency effort and met with the prosecuting attorney to determine charges. Tate was charged with communicating false alarm.

“The statute allows for restitution up to $50,000 for wages and expenses related

to this false call,” said

Allen.

Allen listed each responding agency and extended thanks and then pride. West Memphis firefighters were on the clock but Marion fire and certain other volunteers are paid a fee to cover expenses when responding according to the sheriff.

“The one thing good that came out of this bad situation is everyone did what they needed to do,” said Allen. “We have a bunch of very competent agencies and they proved it with an

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exhaustive effort while working together. They take their jobs seriously and worked well together for the common goal. Had that actually been some kids that had drowned, I’d have been very proud of those on hand that tried to locate them.”

Tate was arrested at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening and released about two hours later.

Communicating a False

Alarm is a Class A misdemeanor

if there is no resulting physical injury or damage to property. The maximum penalty for such is up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.

Tate has a prior criminal history. Most recently, in February, he was arrested on charges of Felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

By John Rech