AUSTINTOWN Teen faces 14 felony charges over prank calls to 911 center

Police and school officials believe they recognize the voice on the 911 tapes.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- A Notre Dame Avenue teen accused of making fake 911 calls and threatening to blow up schools and community centers faces 14 felony charges.
Willie Hylton, 17, is charged in Mahoning County Juvenile Court with four counts of third-degree making false alarms, six counts of fifth-degree making false alarms, and four counts of fourth-degree inducing panic.
Police said Hylton made more than 20 calls to 911 Nov. 2-3 and threatened to blow up several schools and community centers in Canfield and Austintown. He also called to say he had found a bomb and needed police help, reports state.
Recognized his voice
Austintown police and school officials said they listened to the 911 tapes and believed they recognized Hylton's voice. Hylton attends Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, according to authorities.
Detective Sgt. Ray Holmes said Hylton was arrested several times in the past and he questioned Hylton about a burglary a few days before the calls. Hylton has not been charged in the burglary.
Holmes said police in November did not have the phone used to make the calls, so they could not make an arrest at the time.
On April 24, 911 dispatchers received a call from a Notre Dame Avenue home of what sounded like a woman screaming for help. Dispatchers sent five cruisers to the home, only to find the call was a prank.
A short time later, a call came in from what sounded like a young boy saying someone was in his house. Four cruisers were sent to the home, but it, too, was a prank.
Other false reports
Throughout the evening, 911 dispatchers got six reports of break-ins on Notre Dame Drive, all unfounded.
Police remembered Hylton lived in the area and, on April 25, searched his home, finding what they believe is the cell phone used to make the 911 calls the day before and the bomb threats in November.
Police report that Hylton said his 12- and 13-year-old brothers made the calls.
He was arrested and taken to the county juvenile justice center, but was released three days later because he had not been charged. Assistant county prosecutor Anissa Jones said she did not have the police reports she needed at the time to charge Hylton before his release.
After Hylton was released, Holmes and Jones worked to compile the charges filed Wednesday.