Hoax sends Carson City cops on a couple of goose chases

Investigators hope to speak with the owner of a cell phone used to place a phony 911 call Thursday night reporting a non-existent murder.

At least six phony 911 calls over the past month could be related to the false report of a woman found dead with a slit throat at the Best Value Motel in the 2700 block of South Carson Street. The call came just 30 minutes after a false report of an officer being shot sent deputies and troopers on a futile search through town for an injured comrade.

According to dispatch records, a caller with a Hispanic accent reported at 10:10 p.m. there was a "dead female in Room 111 with a cut throat."

The caller said the woman was lying near the fence in the parking lot.

Several officers responded and were unable to find a victim or the person who called 911. Tenants in the room knew nothing of the incident.

Carson City sheriff's Detective Dave Legross said the call was placed from a cell phone with a local area code registered to Nestor Lopez.

Anyone who may know Lopez, or knows who is responsible for the 911 calls, is asked to contact the detective division at 775-887-2020 ext. 1400.

Legross said Lopez is wanted only for questioning.

Misuse of 911 is a gross misdemeanor offense that carries up to a $2,000 fine and a year in jail.

"These calls are tying up emergency response services, taking time, money and resources from people who might actually need them," Legross said.

-- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.