Man charged with false 911 calls

2/8/2012

A Toledo man accused of making false 911 calls, barricading himself in a West Toledo hotel room, and then starting a mattress fire, has been arrested, authorities said.

There were no injuries in the incident at the Red Roof Inn, 3530 Executive Parkway, Tuesday night, according to Toledo police. Nobody at the hotel was evacuated, according to the Toledo fire department, which sent a crew to the scene.

Chicha Harris, 39, of 1328 Campbell St., was charged with aggravated arson, obstructing official business, and misuse of 911, police said. He was booked into the Lucas County jail pending arraignment Feb. 15 at the Toledo Municipal Court, according to jail records.

Police said Harris made several false 911 calls Tuesday from the hotel, alleging that men with guns were causing a disturbance there, according to the police report. During his last call, he told the operator he also had a gun, police said.

When police arrived about 7:15 p.m. to check on his safety, Harris allegedly refused to let them in and barricaded himself inside, locking the door and using a chair and a mattress to block it. Police then tried to force the door open, at which time Harris set the mattress on fire, officers said.

Minutes later, police cut off the lock, forced the door open, and arrested Harris. Officers also put out a small fire on the mattress and on the carpet in the living room, police said.