Fairfield, N.J. Man Accused Of Making 2 Hoax Reports About Boaters In Distress

FAIRFIELD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A Fairfield, New Jersey man was charged Monday with lying to the U.S. Coast Guard twice with stories about boaters in need of emergency.

Joseph Bell, 32, was charged with two counts of making a false public alarm, according to Fairfield, New Jersey police.

On two occasions in the past five months, Bell allegedly used a marine radio to contact the Coast Guard on Staten Island, claiming there were boaters in need of assistance when he knew it was not true, police said.

Both times, the calls resulted in massive responses from the Fairfield, Little Falls and Lincoln Park police and fire departments, various first aid squads, and the New Jersey State Police marine and aviation units, police said.

The first incident attributed to Bell happened around 4 p.m. Oct. 27, police said. First responders were called out for a report that a boat with three children, an adult and a dog flipped over.

But responders discovered that there was not a strong current in the river, and the depths where the search was taking place ranged from 4 to 6 feet high to just knee deep, police said.

Police said Bell's call to the Coast Guard was the only report received about the purported accident. The responders concluded that it was all a hoax, police said.

The second incident allegedly happened this past Tuesday around 5 p.m. This time, Bell allegedly told the Coast Guard he saw an alleged boater in need of assistance on the Passaic River, and he said there were two children and a father trapped or injured, police said.

An extensive marine and air search was lost, and nothing was found, police said.

Police said they have been committed to finding the person responsible for the hoaxes.

"Hopefully this will serve as a message to others that law enforcement takes seriously, false reports and we will do whatever we can to track down those who take valuable resources away from the general public," Fairfield, New Jersey police Chief Anthony G. Manna said in a news release.

Bell was released on a recognizance bond pending a court hearing in Newark, police said. It was not known late Monday whether local and state agencies would seek restitution against him for the cost of deploying the searches.