Coast Guard dismisses Fox Island distress call as costly hoax

A distress call from what appeared to be a young girl Tuesday night was probably a hoax and, says the Coast Guard, the response cost nearly $40,000.

The Coast Guard says it received the call from a supposed 6-year-old girl who identified herself only as "Kelsey" and who said someone with her, possibly named "Kelly," was "in the water."

A helicopter and boat were used to search south Puget Sound near Fox Island, where the call apparently originated. A plane also was used in the search early Wednesday until 8:30 a.m., when the Coast Guard suspended its efforts.

No new missing-persons reports came to light during the search, the Coast Guard said.

"Hoax and prank calls not only diminish the Coast Guard's ability to respond to real emergencies and cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars, they also needlessly place Coast Guard men and women and other first responders at risk," said Rear Adm. John Currier, the Coast Guard's District 13 commander.

He said it costs about $1,200 an hour to operate the Coast Guard's 47-foot rescue lifeboat, while a helicopter or larger vessel may cost from $9,000 to $12,000 an hour. The total cost to the Coast Guard for the 225-square-mile search was $38,711.

In a news conference Thursday afternoon to encourage people not to make false calls, Capt. Steve Metruck, who led the search effort, said all calls are treated as actual emergencies but that the Coast Guard usually receives one prank call per week in the summer.

"You want to resolve these things," Metruck said. "You want to find out at the end of the day that everyone's safe."

It is a federal felony for anyone to knowingly and willfully communicate a false distress message to the Coast Guard when no help is needed, according to the Coast Guard. Penalties include up to six years in prison, a $250,000 fine, a $5,000 civil penalty and possible reimbursement to the Coast Guard for costs of the search.

In 2006, a Florida man was sentenced to pay $597,000 after he made a false report during Hurricane Alberto.

Two Oregon children were found guilty of making several false reports in 2005 and were fined nearly $64,000 and sent to juvenile facilities for 40 days.

The Coast Guard can track the sources of radio calls to enforce punishment for hoaxes, but the seven-minute conversation between the Coast Guard and "Kelsey" was only enough to estimate a broad area.

Anyone with information about the call is asked to contact the Coast Guard at 206-220-7001 or 206-217-6001.

Times staff reporter Sean Rose contributed to this report.

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com