Howell County first responders spent over 18 hours on hoax call

HOWELL COUNTY, Mo. — A supposed mental health crisis for a male in Howell County yesterday took over 18 hours of law enforcement’s time, but ended up being a hoax. 

Howell County Sheriff Matt Roberts said Howell County Dispatch received a call around 1 a.m. on Friday, July 18, from a male stating he was suicidal and intended to take his own life, according to a social media post from Sheriff Roberts.

Over the next several hours, dispatchers and Howell County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies “worked diligently” to identify the caller and determine his location. The caller eventually provided his name as “Noah Morris” and told dispatch he’d run away from home and was staying with a friend in Pomona, an unincorporated community in Howell County.

Deputies began contacting potential family members of the male within Howell County as the dispatcher maintained contact with him. Multiple attempts were made to locate the male, including contact with cellular service providers in an effort to locate the man’s position using phone data — none of which were successful, Sheriff Roberts said.

The HCSO contacted the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) to assist in identifying the individual and determining his whereabouts. MIAC initially informed the HCSO of a male juvenile named Noah who had been entered as a runaway from Arkansas, but after contacting the originating agency, it was determined this was likely not the same person.

After the morning progressed and shifts changed, HCSO Corporal John Thomas took over communications with the male, with Sheriff Roberts joining and speaking with the caller.

Despite continued efforts, the caller refused to disclose his location. 

By the middle of Friday, Sheriff Roberts published a Facebook post using a photo the individual had sent during communications. The post received hundreds of shares, but law enforcement did not receive any tips. 

The caller became increasingly upset that the HCSO had posted his image. He claimed to have taken a large quantity of pills and began speaking lethargically, which prompted Sheriff Roberts to order deputies to begin a door-to-door search in Pomona, according to Roberts.

Eventually, the caller provided an address in Pomona. Sheriff Roberts and Cpl. Thomas responded at 3:30 p.m. — only to discover the address did not exist.

“We canvassed the immediate area and spoke with neighbors, but no one recognized the photo,” Sheriff Roberts said. “With no additional leads and growing doubts about the credibility of the situation, I made the decision to suspend the search until any of the information could be independently verified.”

Sheriff Roberts said later on Friday evening, Howell County Dispatch was contacted by law enforcement out of Michigan, who relayed a nearly identical experience involving a male claiming to be Noah Morris. That caller had provided the same photo and fabricated a similar story. Additionally, their incident had concluded around the same time the HCSO’s incident began. 

“After more than 18 frustrating and emotionally exhausting hours, it was confirmed that this incident was a hoax perpetrated by an unknown individual who sought to waste emergency resources and manipulate public concern,” Sheriff Roberts said. “This was a deliberate, calculated act that resulted in a significant drain on our personnel and operational capabilities.”

Sheriff Roberts said the HCSO takes mental health crises “very seriously” and will “always utilize every available resource to assist those in need.”

He thanked all agencies and individuals who contributed their time and efforts in resolving this incident. 

“To the individual who initiated this hoax, I urge you to reflect deeply on your actions,” Sheriff Roberts said. “Mental health crises are real, and they are not entertainment. Please find another outlet for your time and attention, one that does not endanger lives or abuse the commitment of first responders.”