“Heart Attack Jack” arrested after texting 9-1-1, refusing to answer followup texts
Lang
10/3/19
An Iowa City man has been arrested after police say he texted 9-1-1, then refused to reply to return texts seeking more information.
According to arrest records, 21-year-old John Crooks of Clark Street texted the phrase “Heart Attack Jack” to 9-1-1 just before 9pm Monday. The Johnson County Joint Emergency Communications Center tried contacting Crooks, but he refused to respond to text messages from dispatchers.
Iowa City Police responded to Crooks’ last known location on the 600 block of South Lucas Street, but could not find an emergency.
Police then called Crooks, who sounded very intoxicated. Crooks allegedly told the officer over the phone that he didn’t believe they were the police, and that he would “beat” the officer’s “ass”.
Crooks then said he was at Mosley’s on South Gilbert Street and would meet an officer outside. Arriving police found Crooks outside displaying multiple signs of intoxication. He showed police the “Heart Attack Jack” message he’d sent to 9-1-1, then deleted it as officers were watching. He initially claimed he didn’t mean to text 9-1-1, then claimed he didn’t text 9-1-1 at all.
Crooks is charged with Public Intoxication and Making a False Report to 9-1-1. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six hours in jail.