JOGGINS – A 46-year-old Amherst man is in custody following a fake call to police that led to a massive response in Joggins.
Paul Dean Hicks has been charged with public mischief. He made a brief court appearance in Amherst provincial court on Monday and will remain in custody until his next court appearance on Aug. 22.
Police say a call was received at the Cumberland RCMP at 9 a.m. on Monday indicating a man was being threatened by another man who was holding a gun to his face and that his daughters had been shot and his vehicle set on fire.
The man was reportedly calling from a home in Joggins.
RCMP from Amherst, Oxford, Pugwash and Truro and police dogs from New Minas and Port Hawkesbury were dispatched and several members of the Amherst Police Department and volunteer firefighters also responded.
It was quickly determined the call was coming from a residence in Amherst. Amherst Police located the caller and arrested him at 10 a.m.
No one in Joggins was being threatened or injured as described in the initial call.
The investigation is ongoing.
