Miami, FL - A Miami woman is facing a felony charge after allegedly making hundreds of non-emergency 911 calls over a six-month period, despite previous convictions for similar offenses.
Police say 66-year-old Debra Jean Harris was arrested around 4 p.m. on Wednesday in Miami Beach.
According to the arrest report, officers responded to a 911 call from Harris, who was reportedly "crying hysterically."
They found her lying in the vestibule of a Chase Bank located at 1206 Washington Avenue in South Beach.
Authorities stated that Harris has been provided with housing and support services and possesses the means to support herself financially.
Despite this, she allegedly made 88 calls to 911 in May alone, contributing to a total of 294 calls over the past six months.
The arrest report indicates that her actions have diverted critical emergency resources, including police and fire services, away from genuine emergencies.
Harris has a history of similar offenses, with eight prior arrests for misusing the 911 system since 2014.
Notably, in a 2016 incident in West Palm Beach, she was accused of calling 911 fifteen times in a single night and telling a responding officer to "go to hell" before being arrested at a local pub.
As of Thursday, Harris was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $2,500 bond.
She faces a felony charge for the alleged misuse of the emergency communication system.
The Miami Beach Police Department emphasized the strain such false calls place on emergency services and reiterated the importance of reserving 911 for legitimate emergencies.