Barrie police receive a number of phone calls in one evening from the same person

A stock photo of a telephone.

Police say what started as one phone call from a Barrie woman turned into a long night for Barrie police phone operators.

According to Barrie police, a woman’s initial call for help came around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Police did not disclose why she initially called but say she was told the matter she was calling about would be investigated.

Roughly six hours later, police say the woman started calling again.

According to police, she started by calling 9-1-1 seven times, then the non-emergency number 24 times, all regarding the same matter.

Police further allege that during her repeated calls, the woman became verbally abusive with communications staff.

The 38-year-old woman now faces charges of public mischief.

Police are reminding residents that repeated phone calls to 911 or the non-emergency line will not speed up an investigation.

“It can however, tie up resources necessary for a genuine emergency,” police say.