Arrest For Interferring with Comms

[Guest guest]

Thought you all might be interested in this article. Note the credit given

to the dispatcher.

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Cops Say Man Used Emergency Airwaves

Published in the Asbury Park Press 3/15/01

By MARY DEMPSEY

STAFF WRITER

DOVER TOWNSHIP -- A local man has been accused of interfering with

emergency radio transmissions, police said.

Ferrara, 18, of Division Street, was charged with interception of

emergency communications by Detective Burke and was issued a

summons March 4, police said.

" He was getting in on the radio frequencies of the Dover first aid squads,

fire departments and on police channel two, " Police Chief G.

Mastronardy said Tuesday.

Ferrara interrupted the township's emergency radio transmission by

attempting to speak with emergency officials, Mastronardy said.

He also tapped into the telephone and loudspeaker lines of area businesses,

Mastronardy said.

The arrest was made after an investigation by Burke, Dover Fire District 1

Radio Technician Ed Cittadino, police and fire officials.

" They started investigating conversations coming across the airways, "

Mastronardy said. " Police dispatcher Ann Marie Fitzgerald was a real help

in the investigation and through our efforts, Burke and Cittadino

ascertained the identity of Ferrara. "

Police seized computer and radio equipment from Ferrara, Mastronardy said.