Distress Call Triggers Search for Officer, Proves to Be Hoax

About 50 San Diego police officers Tuesday afternoon searched through Southeast San Diego after receiving a radio call for an officer in trouble, but they called off the search hours later when it was determined that the distress call was a hoax.

Lt. Connie Van Putten said the Police Department received the radio transmission about 4 p.m. The police operator heard a faint voice calling for help and whimpering in the background, Van Putten said.

When the operator asked for details, however, there was no response. But the caller confirmed there was trouble by clicking open the transmitter at the request of the operator, Van Putten said.

Meanwhile, police set up a command post at the Encanto Elementary School, and about 50 police officers moved through an area bounded by Imperial Avenue, State Highway 94, 60th Street and Massachusetts Avenue. The Sheriff’s Department hovered over the area with its ASTREA helicopter.

The search was called off at 7:30 p.m. when the person calling for help no longer responded to requests to click open the transmitter.

Police also did a roll call in the Southeast Division and found no uniformed officers missing. They also were unable to find any undercover officers missing.