Verizon: Pay Up Or Die

[D/\SH]

http://www.timesreporter.com/homepage/x862899385/Unconscious-Carroll-man-found-after-11-hour-search



CARROLLTON, OH —

A 62-year-old Carrollton area man was found unconscious and unresponsive Thursday morning during an intense search overnight by Carroll County sheriff deputies, an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper and the patrols airplane.

Two K-9 units, several fire departments and 100 individuals on foot also were involved in the search for the man, who Sheriff Dale Williams said fled his residence on Kensington Rd. after a domestic disturbance call to deputies.

The man, who was treated at the scene by emergency medical technicians, was taken to Aultman Hospital and released Thursday afternoon.
Sheriff Sgt. Ron Clapper and firefighters found the man about 1 a.m. after 11 hours of searching in an area just north of Augusta, including Manfull Orchards, where there is a Verizon cell phone tower.
Williams said he attempted to use the mans cell phone signal to locate him, but the man was behind on his phone bill and the Verizon operator refused to connect the signal unless the sheriffs department agreed to pay the overdue bill. After some disagreement, Williams agreed to pay $20 on the phone bill in order to find the man. But deputies discovered the man just as Williams was preparing to make arrangements for the payment.
The sheriff organized the search party for the man after deputies responded to the domestic call Wednesday at 2:21 p.m. at the Kensington Rd. residence. The sheriff said the caller said the man was destroying the house and breaking windows and other items.
But when deputies arrived they were told the man had fled and had taken several bottles of pills.
“I was more concerned for the persons life,” Williams said. “It would have been nice if Verizon would have turned on his phone for five or 10 minutes, just long enough to try and find the guy. But they would only turn it on if we agreed to pay $20 of the unpaid bill. Ridiculous.”
Williams said he doesnt know how close the situation was to becoming a tragedy because hes not a doctor, but he thinks the mans condition was very serious

[VenumX]

http://www.timesreporter.com/homepage/x862899385/Unconscious-Carroll-man-found-after-11-hour-search



CARROLLTON, OH —

A 62-year-old Carrollton area man was found unconscious and unresponsive Thursday morning during an intense search overnight by Carroll County sheriff deputies, an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper and the patrols airplane.

Two K-9 units, several fire departments and 100 individuals on foot also were involved in the search for the man, who Sheriff Dale Williams said fled his residence on Kensington Rd. after a domestic disturbance call to deputies.

The man, who was treated at the scene by emergency medical technicians, was taken to Aultman Hospital and released Thursday afternoon.
Sheriff Sgt. Ron Clapper and firefighters found the man about 1 a.m. after 11 hours of searching in an area just north of Augusta, including Manfull Orchards, where there is a Verizon cell phone tower.
Williams said he attempted to use the mans cell phone signal to locate him, but the man was behind on his phone bill and the Verizon operator refused to connect the signal unless the sheriffs department agreed to pay the overdue bill. After some disagreement, Williams agreed to pay $20 on the phone bill in order to find the man. But deputies discovered the man just as Williams was preparing to make arrangements for the payment.
The sheriff organized the search party for the man after deputies responded to the domestic call Wednesday at 2:21 p.m. at the Kensington Rd. residence. The sheriff said the caller said the man was destroying the house and breaking windows and other items.
But when deputies arrived they were told the man had fled and had taken several bottles of pills.
“I was more concerned for the persons life,” Williams said. “It would have been nice if Verizon would have turned on his phone for five or 10 minutes, just long enough to try and find the guy. But they would only turn it on if we agreed to pay $20 of the unpaid bill. Ridiculous.”
Williams said he doesnt know how close the situation was to becoming a tragedy because hes not a doctor, but he thinks the mans condition was very serious

wow verizon are *****es, NO HEART VERIZON !!!!

[D/\SH]

wow verizon are *****es, NO HEART VERIZON !!!!


yeah pretty much and if im not mistaking from what one of my teachers said... there is a number for all law enforcement to call 24-7 where they can get a persons phone activated by calling through that number and than giving the info to the rep like on the persons name and all.... like paul walker did in the original fast and furious when lance or whoever went into shock after getting ****ed up by that trucker.

[menikfire]

his phone bill and the Verizon operator refused to connect
the signal unless the sheriffs department agreed to pay the overdue bill.

wow verizon are *****es, NO HEART VERIZON !!!!

that is ****ed up!!
and yet verizon let the sheriffs pay the bill???

[Superman369]

yeah pretty much and if im not mistaking from what one of my teachers said... there is a number for all law enforcement to call 24-7 where they can get a persons phone activated by calling through that number and than giving the info to the rep like on the persons name and all.... like paul walker did in the original fast and furious when lance or whoever went into shock after getting ****ed up by that trucker.
???? Man, I must be outta the loop on that one. Never even heard of it. I gotta get the hook up.

[eklipz3]

Now thats just wrong the verizon rep should be fired for pullin sum stuff like that.. just goes to show how cold hearted people can be in this world.

[DenverDev]

Private companies are not compelled to provide information to law enforcement outside of certain perameters (ie. court order). LE can REQUEST the information based upon circumstances, and under those circumstances, private companies do have some protection. But of course, in the long run, private companies are more concerned about releasing information and getting sued for doing so. Court orders are most often required to COMPEL compliance, however, what are called exigent circumstances can be brought into the mix. For instance, we probably have all heard about 911 calls coming over a cellular phone. The call taker can request that the GPS position be used to get assistance to a party. if you have ever noticed the GPS settings on your phone, it actually has a setting for 911 calls one (which means that you have dialed 911 under the understanding that GPS can/will be utilized to find you) or for every call Gps can be used.

The individual circumstances of each situation are weighed by a bunch of people. I think that this is a good thing. Otherwise, if LE is able to call a company and say "GIVE IT TO ME", and get it, are there any "privacy" protections? Can a "bright yellow line" be drawn that say that in these specific cases its ok and otherwise it is not? I, for one, dont think so.

What muddies the waters soooooo much is the concept of "right vs wrong". Sometimes people do thing that are "wrong", but not necessarily illegal or rise to a level of governmental interference. Other times, people do things that are "right" but in violation of law or do rise to the level of governmental interference. It, certianly, is a frustrating and perhaps overly complicated system, but its a system none the less.

I admit that this post is a bit dis-jointed and has not been carefully edited. the concept is that governmental intrusion must be limited. where those exact lines are or should be is not exactly as clear as many would want them to be.

[D/\SH]

Now thats just wrong the verizon rep should be fired for pullin sum stuff like that.. just goes to show how cold hearted people can be in this world.

well you cant really blame it on the rep because they my be doing what they were told to do and in these times when your boss tells you to do something you do it....

Private companies are not compelled to provide information to law enforcement outside of certain perameters (ie. court order). LE can REQUEST the information based upon circumstances, and under those circumstances, private companies do have some protection. But of course, in the long run, private companies are more concerned about releasing information and getting sued for doing so. Court orders are most often required to COMPEL compliance, however, what are called exigent circumstances can be brought into the mix. For instance, we probably have all heard about 911 calls coming over a cellular phone. The call taker can request that the GPS position be used to get assistance to a party. if you have ever noticed the GPS settings on your phone, it actually has a setting for 911 calls one (which means that you have dialed 911 under the understanding that GPS can/will be utilized to find you) or for every call Gps can be used.

The individual circumstances of each situation are weighed by a bunch of people. I think that this is a good thing. Otherwise, if LE is able to call a company and say "GIVE IT TO ME", and get it, are there any "privacy" protections? Can a "bright yellow line" be drawn that say that in these specific cases its ok and otherwise it is not? I, for one, dont think so.

What muddies the waters soooooo much is the concept of "right vs wrong". Sometimes people do thing that are "wrong", but not necessarily illegal or rise to a level of governmental interference. Other times, people do things that are "right" but in violation of law or do rise to the level of governmental interference. It, certianly, is a frustrating and perhaps overly complicated system, but its a system none the less.

I admit that this post is a bit dis-jointed and has not been carefully edited. the concept is that governmental intrusion must be limited. where those exact lines are or should be is not exactly as clear as many would want them to be.

i like your input on this topic and both sides..... both if he has all the info and with the case explained that he could die or hurt someone else cant you just drop the 20 dollars and stop mentioning that? i understand its 20 bucks he owes the company but the cops and hindreds of others were trying to ge to this guy before he passed... i think both parties could have a different approach and too bad for verizon he was one of their customers.... and my question is how did they know he was through verizon?

[DenverDev]

and my question is how did they know he was through verizon?

it really isnt difficult to determine who the original provider was for a cellular phone. Number portability has made it more difficult, but I can usually look at a cell phone number and tell who the provider mostly like is or at least who the provider was when the number was assigned (If it was assigned in the general Denver/Metro area....I dont see nearly the same number of phone numbers from Ft. Collins or Greely or Colorado Springs etc)...

For instance, if i see a 303-909-xxxx or 303-912-xxxx (which are the prefixes that immediately come to mind) I know that VZW was the original carrier who issued the number. Not too difficult when you read alot of phone numbers and who they have as a carrier...After that, a quick phone call to determine if it is still a valid number with that carrier or who they ported it to....

[D/\SH]

it really isnt difficult to determine who the original provider was for a cellular phone. Number portability has made it more difficult, but I can usually look at a cell phone number and tell who the provider mostly like is or at least who the provider was when the number was assigned (If it was assigned in the general Denver/Metro area....I dont see nearly the same number of phone numbers from Ft. Collins or Greely or Colorado Springs etc)...

For instance, if i see a 303-909-xxxx or 303-912-xxxx (which are the prefixes that immediately come to mind) I know that VZW was the original carrier who issued the number. Not too difficult when you read alot of phone numbers and who they have as a carrier...After that, a quick phone call to determine if it is still a valid number with that carrier or who they ported it to....

i realize that with the numbers but we dont know how he found out he was verizon... wish they would havbe thrown that part in haha

[DenverDev]

we dont know how he found out he was verizon... wish they would havbe thrown that part in haha

I thnk i am missing something...which "he" are you as finding out about VZW? It says in the article that the sheriff tried to call and the verizon operator told him to put up $20...(my paraphrasing summary) .not that it matters, but i think i missed something....oh wait....sorry i think i understand you.....if you are asking how they knew to call VZW to ask them to turn on the signal, i bet they got that from the wife/girfriend etc....

[D/\SH]

I thnk i am missing something...which "he" are you as finding out about VZW? It says in the article that the sheriff tried to call and the verizon operator told him to put up $20...(my paraphrasing summary) .not that it matters, but i think i missed something....oh wait....sorry i think i understand you.....if you are asking how they knew to call VZW to ask them to turn on the signal, i bet they got that from the wife/girfriend etc....

could be but they had random people around for domestic troubles and all.. the only way i can think of it showing is if the police did get from family or friend like you said..... but what makes one believe that he is going to be carrying around a phone that he cant even use?

[gadget945]

By Nancy Schaar
The Times-Reporter
Posted May 23, 2009 @ 11:49 PM
Last update May 24, 2009 @ 08:39 AM
CARROLLTON Verizon officials have conducted an internal investigation into events Wednesday concerning a company employees actions during the search for a Carroll County man.

Laura Merit, public relations manager for Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia Verizon customers, said on Friday that Verizon would look into the matter, investigate it thoroughly and find out what happened.

A 25-year-old Augusta area man had taken an overdose of pills and ran from his home on Kensington Rd., Carroll County Sheriff Dale Williams said. Williams, deputies, local firefighters, an Ohio State Patrol Officer, two K-9 units and the Patrols airplane searched for hours to find the man in a wooded area near Augusta. An incorrect age for the man was provided for a previous story.

Williams had tried to use the mans cell phone in order to retrieve a signal to assist in locating him. Williams said the Verizon operator he spoke with refused to trace the cell phone signal because the mans cell phone bill was overdue and the phone had been disconnected.

The operator told the sheriff that if he paid $20 on the bill, the phone signal could be traced.

While the sheriff was making the payment arrangements, a deputy notified the sheriff the man had been found and the sheriff was not forced to make the payment.

Merit said on Saturday that the operator did not follow company policy.

“We made a mistake and it has been addressed. We apologize for the mistake,” stated Merit.

Merit explained that the mans cell phone was not a regular cell phone, but was a pre-paid service that had run out of minutes. Merit also said that there was a Verizon tower near the area of the search, as Williams had stated. A Verizon technician was working on the tower and was shutting it down, but told Williams he would leave the tower in operation until the man could be located, and he did.

There is a 24-hour hot line number that is available to law enforcement officials, and Merit said the sheriffs office now has been provided with that number to prevent any similar events.

“Well continue to work with law enforcement officials and assist in any way that we can,” Merit stated.

Williams said on Saturday that hes glad theyve addressed the matter but he was still very upset over how close this man came to losing his life and was very frustrated with the Verizon operator.

“The cell phone contract for the sheriffs department is about to expire. We have that contract with Verizon, but at this point, I dont know if I want to even think about renewing a contract with them,” Williams stated.

The victim was transported to Aultman Hospital at Canton where he was treated and released.