Man accused of calling in phony murder to avoid ticket during traffic stop

WEST MELBOURNE , Fla., July 25 (UPI) -- A Florida man who was pulled over for speeding is now in much bigger trouble after he allegedly called emergency dispatchers and reported a fake murder to avoid getting a ticket.

Julius Lupowitz is accused of calling 911 about a made-up murder that was about to take place so the officers who pulled him over for speeding would be called away.

"I see there's a murder that's going to happen, I swear, on Wingate, on Wingate. No, Wingate and Wickham. No, on Wingate and Hollywood, Wingate and Hollywood," Lupowitz allegedly said in the 911 call. "I swear there's going to be a murder any second. I swear there's a man with a gun. Please, I just called, it's Wingate and Hollywood."

A second 911 operator also received a call from Lupowitz.

A Brevard County Sheriff's Office dispatcher was able to determine that the calls likely came from Lupowitz and the news went out over the radio.

"When she broadcast that information, our officer was standing at the door of Mr. Lupowitz' vehicle and realized it was the same person making the 911 calls," Richard Cordeau of the West Melbourne Police Department told WFTV.

The calls could lead to Lupowitz spending up to five years in jail because he is now facing a third-degree felony charge for misuse of the 911 system.

If he had just taken the ticket, it would have only been for $209. Adding insult to injury, Lupowitz will still have to pay the fine.