A man in Simcoe had to be told to catch a cab after calling 911 looking for a ride home.
The Ontario Provincial Police said a 911 call was made to the OPP Communications Centre in London by the man after he'd been released from a local hospital, on Friday at around 2:28 a.m. OPP officers were able to contact the man and told him to call a local taxi company directly.
"On average, it takes at least two officers approximately 30 minutes to respond, investigate and clear the call," the OPP said in a news release. "This puts enormous pressure on OPP resources when officers respond to unnecessary calls that can be prevented."
No charges in connection with this incident have been reported by police, however, the OPP is urging the public to only call 911 in the event of an emergency.
"Please do not call 911 about a power outage or to inquire about road conditions or if you have a sick raccoon on your property, to order food or if you need a ride home," the OPP said. "This is not an emergency."