August 25, 2023 – San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials report that between April 2023 to July 21, 2023, an emergency response division of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department received approximately 7,000 harassing non-emergency spam calls from an unidentified suspect using an “unknown” number. The calls were annoying and harassing, preventing staff from quickly attending to other legitimate emergency calls.

Upon investigation, the caller was identified as Luke Edward Dumas. On Saturday, July 22, 2023, Dumas was taken into custody and booked at West Valley Detention Center for PC 653(x) Annoying and Harassing Calls to Emergency Lines, PC 372 Public Nuisance, PC 148.2 Interfering with Emergency Services, PC 148(a)(1) Delaying an Officer, and CVC 23103 Reckless Driving. On Monday, July 24, 2023, Dumas posted bail and was released from custody. 

The same day Dumas was released from custody, the emergency response division began receiving repetitive harassing, non-emergency spam calls from an unidentified suspect. During several of the harassing calls, the caller threatened to harm emergency response personnel. Upon further investigation, the caller was again identified as Dumas.

On Thursday, August 24, 2023, Dumas was taken into custody and booked at the Central Detection Center for PC 653(x) Annoying and Harassing Calls to Emergency Lines, PC 653(m) Annoying Phone Calls Containing Obscene Language, PC 148.2 Interfering with Rescue Personnel, PC 372 Public Nuisance, and PC 12022.1 Committing a Felony While on Bail.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department emergency phone systems are to be used in cases of emergency only, and abuse of any phone systems will be taken seriously as it prohibits law enforcement from performing their duties. Spam-calling law enforcement’s emergency phone systems and normal business phone systems could expose the public to prolonged wait times and further risk of danger.

Investigators believed Dumas may be connected to additional harassing and annoying calls to emergency services throughout the Inland Empire. Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact The Public Affairs Division at the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Headquarters, at (909) 387-3700. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463), or you may leave the information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.

DATE/TIME: August 24, 2023/11:30 A.M.

INCIDENT: PC 136.1 – Intimidating a Witness, PC 653(X) – Annoy/Harass 911/Emergency Phone System(s), and PC 12022.1 – Committing a Felony While on Bail

LOCATION: San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department

SUSPECT(S): Luke Edward Dumas, 48-year-old male, resident of Rialto

VICTIM(S): San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department

Source: San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department

Related: Rialto Man Arrested for Making Over 7,000 Spam Calls to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department