Woman arrested for dialing 119 on 157 occasions

Tuesday 06th October, 02:00 PM JST

WAKAYAMA —

A 48 year-old woman was arrested Monday for interfering with police in the line of duty after she allegedly dialed the emergency number 119 on 157 occasions between March 1 and June 29, telling operators she was “tired.” Ambulances were dispatched 46 times to the home of Kazuko Komae, a resident of Wakayama, police said.

According to police, when the ambulances arrived, Komae would spout abusive language and tell them to leave. She has denied the charge.

City fire department squad leader Masao Oura, 51, commented, “We can’t really tell what the situation is over the phone, unfortunately. We’d like ambulances to be reserved for people who really need them.”

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Latest 15 of 25 Total Comments Show All

franz75 at 05:36 PM JST - 6th October

remove the following keys: 1 and 9
some14some at 05:38 PM JST - 6th October

119 free dial for 157 times?
martyman at 06:21 PM JST - 6th October

If you can remember the story of the boy that cried wolf to many times, this lady will have a real crisis/emergency and dial 119 after she is released from jail. The emergency units will respond, but not with any urgency because of the crank calls she made before. Too bad she doesn't live in Saitama, this story would not be strange at all.
Sarge at 06:25 PM JST - 6th October

Better to call 119 than to stab someone.
Foxie at 06:31 PM JST - 6th October

Good to see she got arrested...finally...why did it take 157 times to do something about it whilst other people are in real danger. I only had to call them once in a life and death situation. They told me I had to wait at least half an hour as they were busy with another accident. I almost freaked out. There seems to be a shortage and people shouldn't abuse calling them for nothing.
ptolemy at 07:16 PM JST - 6th October

Timorborder...What's her number, perhaps my distinguished colleagues her on JT could organize a telethon for this poor woman. What do you reckon folks? Phone calls 24 hours a day by shift. That would soon fix her....

Yeah and we could get Jerry Lewis to host it. I'm with you, like that thinking. Also, Higashikokubaru could make a guest appearance with our great mangoes and shochu from Miyazaki.
animallover at 07:21 PM JST - 6th October

The woman said she was tired, she meant what she said.
dolphingirl at 07:47 PM JST - 6th October

157 calls in 4 months! That's a lot! Obviously, this woman did need help of the mental kind. After several calls, you would think they would take her for psychiatric treatment or something!!
larguero at 10:34 PM JST - 6th October

Did they have to wait to the 157th call? She made more than a call per day for 4 months. Nobody noticed the fifth time she called that she was a wacko?
zurcronium at 02:51 AM JST - 7th October

She thought 119 was the direct dial for Joon-chan tickets.
wontond at 03:11 AM JST - 7th October

Better to call 119 than to stab someone.

Agreed Sarge. Perhaps she could also take a conversational English class. I think people who are bored or seeking attention enjoy this activity.
Monoflow at 11:07 PM JST - 7th October

She felt lonely, obviously...
mnemosyne23 at 12:05 AM JST - 8th October

Unfortunately, 119 operators (just like 911 in the States) are duty-bound to treat every call like a real emergency. Frivolous calls like this not only tie up resources, but also cost a LOT of money. Ambulances and fire trucks and EMTs and police don't pay for themselves. Someone needs to buy the gas, pay the salaries, and maintain the vehicles. The more they're dispatched on pointless calls, the more the taxpayer takes it in the wallet.

FOXIE: I'm appalled! Thank God you obviously survived your situation. It's a sad day when emergency services puts you on a waiting list as if you were ordering a pizza.
The758 at 06:57 AM JST - 8th October

.. Out of the streets, out of sight ...

There are plenty of crazy people walking the streets these days
kawabunga at 09:21 PM JST - 9th October

Sounds like she needs to be on meds or locked up!