A 92-year-old man who called 911 to report prowlers around his home instead prompted deputies to focus on something else entirely: the dangerous conditions he was living in and whether he could safely remain there.
When deputies responded to the home in the Chesapeake area, they searched for the reported intruders but quickly realized the bigger concern wasn’t outside the house—it was inside.
According to the report, officers found the elderly homeowner living alone after recently suffering a fall that left him with two broken ribs. Deputies twice offered to call an ambulance so he could be evaluated, but he declined both times.
As deputies checked on his welfare, they discovered the home was in what the report described as deplorable condition.
Investigators found no running water, no refrigerator, and evidence that a previous kitchen fire had left much of the kitchen unusable. The home’s floor had deteriorated so badly that portions had been patched with sheets of OSB and particle board. Outside, the porch and rear deck were overgrown and cluttered with trash and debris.
The man told deputies he lived alone and that his daughter lived nearby, but he was unable to provide her address.
Deputies attempted several times to reach his daughter by telephone but were unsuccessful.
The original reason for the 911 call was the man’s belief that three people had been sneaking around his home.
He told deputies he saw one person on the front porch and two others behind the house. Officers searched the property but found no signs anyone had recently been there.
According to the report, the man also told deputies he frequently sees people around his home, even during rain and snowstorms. It was the second time the responding deputy had been called to the residence for reports of prowlers.
Because of the man’s age, recent injuries, and the condition of the home, deputies advised they would make a referral to Adult Protective Services for follow-up.
Sometimes the Biggest Emergency Isn’t the One Reported
Calls that begin as reports of prowlers, suspicious activity, or other minor complaints sometimes reveal a much more serious problem. Law enforcement officers are often the first people to discover that an elderly resident may be living in unsafe conditions or struggling to care for themselves.
Warning signs can include a lack of basic utilities, structural damage inside the home, repeated falls, social isolation, poor living conditions, or increasing confusion.
Adult Protective Services works with vulnerable adults and their families to evaluate these situations and connect people with resources that can help them remain safe while preserving as much independence as possible.
In this case, deputies never found evidence that prowlers had been around the home—but they did find an elderly man whose living conditions raised immediate concerns for his health and safety.