Burglary Suspect Butt-Dialed 911 to Tell Them His Plans

Scott Esser really took the magic out of policework
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 9, 2015 3:32 PM CDT
Burglary Suspect Butt-Dialed 911 to Tell Them His Plans
Scott Esser   (Somerset County Prosecutor's Office)

Dialing 911 ought to be a little more difficult: New Jersey authorities say a man planning a burglary inadvertently dialed 911—which prosecutors note, via NJ.com, is "commonly referred to as a 'butt dial'"—allowing dispatchers to listen in on his conversation. Somerset County prosecutors say Branchburg police received the errant call on July 27, but were unsure of the caller's location. They learned that the phone number had recently been assigned to 42-year-old Scott Esser, of Elizabeth. Esser was arrested Wednesday, after he allegedly entered a Stafford Township home. He's now charged with that burglary and others in Branchburg and Berkeley Heights.

Authorities say the Branchburg robbery occurred the same day Esser allegedly made the inadvertent phone call. Esser's bail was set at $100,000 and it wasn't known yesterday if he has retained an attorney. (More dumb criminals stories.)

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