Disabled Woman Charged for Placing Numerous Calls to N.C. 911

July 16--SNOW HILL -- A woman living in a group home for cerebral palsy patients spent a night in the Greene County Jail.

Snow Hill Police Chief John Rea said Nedra Dawn Culp, 66, made numerous 911 phone calls and was charged on Monday with interferring with a 911 system, which is a misdemeanor, and was taken to the jail.

"We went there (to the home) multiple times and on the third time we went there, she was charged," Rea said about Culp.

The home at 703 S.E. Second St. at Liberty Street is owned by Easter Seals United Celebral Palsy Housing, Inc. in Raleigh.

Most, if not all, of the residents of the home have some type of mental disability -- "some far more severe than others," Rea said.

A staff member at the home confirmed that.

Rea alleges Culp at first used a cell phone and when an officer told her not to use her phone, she began using a landline. Rea said the magistrate told him Culp called seven times when he was standing in the Sheriff's Office, and she may have made as many as 40 calls to the 911 center.

"I have talked to several people that were involved," Rea said, "and the officer attempted to get the staff to take away the phone and they refused, so (the officers) couldn't take away the phone."

It left them no recourse but to arrest the woman. She was placed in jail under a $1,000 secured bond. A bondsman bailed her out on Tuesday, according to court records.

Rea said the magistrate could have given her an unsecured bond, which gives him the impression Culp appeared to be mentally fit.

"If a magistrate put her under a $1,000 bond," he said, "I would say she isn't mentally challenged."

Nicole Bauer, a community director based in the Rocky area for the Easter Seals Celebral Palsy organization said on Wednesday the home is designated for clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities, but could not confirm any other information.

Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.b

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