Iowa City woman charged after allegedly making false 911 calls

Hunter
12/05/23

An Iowa City woman was arrested Sunday evening after allegedly making a series of false 911 calls to police.

50-year-old Trina Thompson of 501 Southgate reportedly made the first call just before 6pm, reporting that she was in the bathtub in her apartment and requested officers to come speak to her while she was in the tub.  She allegedly continued to ask for police while on the phone but would not state an issue, only asking that officers come to her apartment and talk to her while she was bathing.

Thompson allegedly stole another resident’s cellphone at around 6pm, grabbing it from the front lobby while it was on a counter, just an arm’s reach from the victim.  She then reportedly called the front desk from her apartment while using the recently-stolen phone. Staff also called the victim’s phone and Thompson answered it in her apartment.  When confronted about the theft, she said she couldn’t remember where she hid the phone, then said she didin’t have it before allegedly remembering that she hid the phone in the tank behind the toilet. The phone was recovered.

Thompson then placed another 911 call at around 7:30pm, and reportedly screamed at dispatchers requesting officers come to speak to her while she was bathing. Just before 8pm, she made her third call, allegedly requesting a specific police vehicle arrive and the officer come upstairs to speak with her. Officers were already on scene with the front desk staff, making contact with Thompson and requesting she come down to speak with them, but she reportedly then stated there was no emergency or need to talk to police.

Thompson was charged with three counts of making a false 911 call and one count of 4th degree theft. If convicted on the charges, she could be sentenced to up to four months in jail.