Story Published:
Jul 1, 2009 at 7:41 AM CDT
Story Updated:
Jul 1, 2009 at 11:39 AM CDT
CONWAY, Ark. -- The FBI is investigating a prank phone call that caused $50,000 in damage to a hotel here. Conway police spokeswoman Sharen Carter said Monday that the FBI is
looking into the call in which a man claimed to be a representative
of a fire alarm company.
The man persuaded employees at a Holiday Inn Express to pull a fire alarm by saying the system needed to be reset. The man then told employees and a guest to break an overhead fire sprinkler and windows in the lobby to prevent all the fire sprinklers from activating.
Special Agent Jason Pack of the FBI's national news office says
the case is being handled by the Knoxville, Tenn., field office. A
spokesman in the Knoxville office wasn't available for comment.
Eight cases have been reported in four states in recent days, and authorities say felony charges could be filed against whoever is making the calls. In Alabama, a Marine roused from his sleep got “knocked silly” by a blast of water after being persuaded to set off the sprinkler in his room; there was no fire.
