Orem Police arrest man for calling dispatch 44 times over two hours, documents say

OREM, Utah (ABC4) — A man has been arrested and charged after police say he called dispatch 44 times over an hour and a half. In the calls, he allegedly insulted and threatened both dispatchers and police officers.

John Wayne Pickett, 41, was charged with emergency reporting abuse, a second-degree felony; electronic communications harassment, a Class B misdemeanor; and intoxication, a Class C misdemeanor.

According to court documents, on Sept. 28, 2025, dispatchers in Utah County were called by a man who reported that he had been assaulted. He allegedly called dispatch three times, but would become “extremely belligerent” toward the dispatchers when they asked for information.

During the first phone calls, the man — later identified as Pickett — reported that the suspect was at his house and insulted dispatchers with profanities whenever they asked questions. Documents say he first reported an assault, then a sexual assault, and then a robbery.

Dispatchers were able to locate the general area from which his calls were coming, near 800 N and Geneva Road in Orem.

Orem Police officers responded to the general area and searched for Pickett. While the police searched, he allegedly threatened to shoot the officers. The arresting officer made contact with the man by phone but reported that Pickett yelled at him and did not report any emergency or assault.

After getting off the phone, Pickett called dispatch again and continued insulting them and threatening to shoot dispatchers and police officers, documents say. As he continued calling dispatch repeatedly, Orem police searched the residences he was previously known to stay at, but couldn’t locate him.

Dispatch eventually got a more precise location for Pickett, and the Orem Police officer responded to the area. He located Pickett by listening for his yells, as he was still shouting at a dispatcher. Pickett was allegedly located in front of his storage unit with an open beer in his hand and surrounded by several beer cans.

Over the span of 1.5 hours, Pickett had called dispatch 44 times, according to documents. The arresting officer expressed concern that his behavior was occupying a dispatcher during every call, “possibly preventing someone in need from calling during that time.”

Pickett was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail, where he is being held with bail.