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Coast Guard looking for hoax caller from Maryland

By WTOP Staff

BALTIMORE (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard is asking for the public’s help in identifying a person who has made numerous false distress calls from southern Maryland.

Capt. Kevin Kiefer, commander of Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, said in a news release Tuesday that the same male voice has made the calls including 11 on June 21. Kiefer says the false distress calls were found to have originated from the Leonardtown area transmitting over VHF-FM marine radio channel 16.

Kiefer says the fake calls limit the Coast Guard’s ability to help boaters in emergency situations. The searches resulting from calls have cost the Coast Guard about $15,000.

Anyone who can help identify the caller is urged to contact Coast Guard Investigative Service Baltimore at 410-576-2696. A reward of $2,000 is being offered.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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