MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A Miami woman who goes by the street name of “Bonafide” is facing a felony charge after authorities said she’s made hundreds of bogus 911 calls in just six months ― and she’s been convicted of abusing the system multiple times.
Debra Jean Harris, 66, of Little Havana, was arrested in Miami Beach at around 4 p.m. Wednesday.
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An arrest report states that an officer, responding to a 911 call from Harris “crying hysterically,” discovered her lying in the vestibule of the Chase Bank at 1206 Washington Ave. on South Beach.
Authorities noted in Harris’ arrest report that she has been provided housing and support and does not need assistance, saying she has “the means to support herself financially.”
Police said she’s made 88 911 calls in just the month of May alone and, over a six-month timespan, has made 294 calls to 911.
“Instead of heeding prior warnings, the defendant continues to misuse the 911 emergency system, causing limited resources (fire and police) within the city of Miami Beach to be diverted to her for non-emergency events,” the police report states. “As a result of the defendant’s continued and blatant misuse of the 911 emergency system, the defendant was arrested without incident.”
Harris has had eight prior arrests, including multiple convictions, for misusing 911 since 2014.
According to ABC affiliate WPBF, that included a 2016 incident in West Palm Beach, where Harris was accused of calling 911 15 times and then telling an officer to “go to hell” before being arrested at a Clematis Street pub.
As of Thursday, Harris was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $2,500 bond, jail records show.