A boy called 911 to ask for help with his math homework. Moments later, police realized he had a far bigger problem and rushed to his address. Ryan Crosby sat deep in thought, staring at the plain wall and his math book.
“How am I supposed to solve this one?” he mumbled. The 8-year-old had a math assignment due the next day and couldn’t figure out a few problems. Even the internet didn’t have the step-by-step answers he needed.
That’s when Ryan picked up the phone and dialed 911. “911. What’s your emergency?” the operator answered.
Although the emergency unit in that part of Madison had dealt with all sorts of calls, this one was unlike anything they had received before. “Come again? You need help with math???” the dispatcher exclaimed after listening to Ryan.
“Yes, I do,” Ryan said earnestly. “My mom always told me I shouldn’t be scared to call 911 to ask for help.”
The operator hoped this wasn’t another prank call. Kids in town often dialed 911 with hoaxes around Halloween.
Not wanting to jump to conclusions, she decided not to take the boy’s pleas about his math homework too seriously. “Listen, son… What’s your name?” the operator asked. “My name is Ryan.”
“Ryan, this is not a tutorial center… It’s an emergency line,” she explained gently.
“Is there any emergency we can help you with?”
But Ryan insisted he only needed help solving his math problems. “Please! My mom said 911 helps… help me with this, please!” he cried.
At this point, the operator debated hanging up, but she needed to be sure it wasn’t a prank. She decided she should speak to Ryan’s mother. “Alright!
I will transfer your call to the non-emergency department. But before that, can you give the phone to your mother?” she asked. Ryan burst into tears.
He said he wouldn’t have called 911 if his mother had been home. “I see. Is there another adult with you in the house?” the operator asked.
“No, it’s just me,” Ryan replied. “Are you saying you’re all alone in the house, Ryan?”
“Yes.”
“One sec, hold on… hold on…” The operator kept him on the line as she quickly traced his address. Within minutes, police officers rushed to the home and found him alone at 10 p.m.
“Hello, Ryan. Where is your mother? How long have you been alone in the house?” an officer asked calmly.
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