911 is a powerful tool. It does this really neat thing where when you use any type of phone to dial the numbers 9-1-1, a nice person on the other end of the line answers and helps you sort out major life problems by sending appropriate responders (either EMS, firefighters or police) to wherever you are.
But just like any “powerful tool,” 911 sometimes gets abused, and it’s usually by really drunk people, like this cool guy named Terry Lynn Kimbell, who called the cops on Taco Bell after employees refused to serve him at the the drive-through window … because he had no car!
After a heavy night of drinking, Mr. Kimbell caught a mean craving for tacos. So like any respectable American hungry for tacos, he made his way to Taco Bell. But he forgot something … HIS CAR! (On purpose, of course.)
Terry Kimbell, 50, called 911 from his cell phone to inform the dispatcher Taco Bell would not sell him tacos while he stood in the drive-thru lane Tuesday night, according to a Largo police report.
Bay News 9 obtained the 911 call through a public records request:
911: “Largo emergency.”
Kimbell: “It’s not an emergency. However, can you — can you put me through to dispatch? I’m at the Taco Bell, and I walked in, and I left my car on purpose, so I wouldn’t drink and drive. I walked up, they wouldn’t serve me. So, I’m at the Taco Bell at 137th and Walsingham and I just want some tacos. That’s it.”
Kimbell tells the dispatcher he has the munchies. He’d been drinking alcohol, according to the police report.
911: “What are the employees saying?”
Kimbell: “You can’t walk up, you’ve got to drive up. You got a get a DUI to get a taco. I got the munchies and I walked a quarter mile from here. Are you going to help me out or do I have to get arrested to get home? You know what I’m saying?”
911: “Well, we’re not going to take you home.”
Kimbell: “I want you to call the manager at the Taco Bell.”
Kimbell stayed on the phone the for about 11 minutes with dispatch until a police officer arrived and arrested him for misuse of a 911 system.
Kimbell was released from jail on Wednesday.
Bay News 9 tried contacting Kimbell at his apartment, but the door was not answered. He did tell the dispatcher the reason he called 911 though:
Kimbell: “When I get refused service for no reason, it T’s me off. So, I call you guys. Does that make sense?”
Largo police Lt. Mike Loux said when someone calls 911 for a reason that’s not an emergency, they’re tying up resources for those who truly are having an emergency.
“Certainly calling 911 because you didn’t get your tacos is not something that would constitute an emergency,” Loux said.
A Taco Bell manager said they don’t allow customers to walk in their drive-thru for safety reasons.
The fast food company does not want customers to get run over. The manager also said people on foot pose an increased robbery risk to employees.
To this guy’s defense … he did tell the dispatcher it wasn’t an emergency. So why did they continue to talk to him from that point on?
Still though, this story is all types of funny!
