Many of the emergency service crews in Keokuk were at an accident on Plank Road, which took place at 3:13 p.m. Tuesday when another call came in at 3:26 p.
m. reporting a person had jumped off the lock into the river and had not resurfaced. A multitude of agencies responded to the riverfront for the call, including the Keokuk Fire Department, Keokuk Police Department, Lee County EMS and the Keokuk Emergency Corps.
. Nothing was found, however. The Keokuk Fire Department report said the fire crew began a search and there was no one found in the water.
The department personnel spoke with the lock master and he advised that he had not seen anyone near the locks, or jump into the water. The fire department report went on to say that it was possibly a "prank call." Keokuk Police Chief Zeth Baum said it is their assessment at the KPD, after working with multiple agencies that it was a false report intended to create an emergency response.
He said releasing more details on that could create copycats. The Keokuk Emergency Corps did put its boat in the water and checked around the lock and dam. No one was located and emergency personnel then cleared the scene.
This incident may be similar to an incident in June where a report was made claiming a teenager had been shot by Lincoln School. At the time, area law enforcement were pursuing a vehicle north of town and the false report drew some law enforcement away from the pursuit to respond to it. False reports to law enforcement can either .