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Brandon Sun - ONLINE EDITION

Charges follow rescue hoax

By: Alexandra Paul

Friday, Aug. 3, 2012 at 8:25 AM

RCMP identified a Matlock man who faces mischief and alcohol charges after he allegedly called in a phoney rescue plea from his boat on Lake Winnipeg.

James Scott, 36, was charged with impaired operation of a vessel/boat, impaired care and control of a vessel/boat and public mischief. Additional charges are possible and police continue to investigate.

Scott is scheduled to appear in Gimli Provincial Court on Oct. 29.

The incident began with an apparent distress call at approximately 10 p.m. Tuesday about a capsized boat and 13 people in the water.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Miles Hiebert said the call to RCMP triggered responses from the Canadian Coast Guard, local emergency services and a Royal Canadian Air Force Hercules and search and rescue team out of 17 Wing in Winnipeg.

The coast guard vessel located a boat with a lone individual on board about one kilometre from shore near the Winnipeg Beach harbour.

The 36-year-old man was safe. The boat had not capsized and no one was in the water.

Hiebert said Scott was taken into custody Tuesday night. Wednesday morning, RCMP reported alcohol appeared to be involved in the incident.

Hiebert said the phoney call isn't considered a laughing matter, adding search and rescue personnel put their lives at risk during searches and many times individuals are injured.

"It's tragic to think that could have been the possibility here," Hiebert said.

It's difficult to put a price on the waste of resources on a phoney call, he said.

But the real tragedy would have been if a legitimate call for help had come in and the needed resources weren't available because of the hoax, Hiebert said.

alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca