From
mcall.comPolice said man made obscene calls through a phone service for the deaf for fun of it
A Lackawanna County man was arrested by Fountain Hill police for sending 72 obscene messages through an instant-message service for the hearing impaired for the fun of it.
Police said Andrew S. Brunell, 24, of Hawley told them he sent the messages because "because it was hilarious and entertaining to him."
He was charged yesterday with unlawful use of a computer, stalking, and harassment.
Police are investigating whether Brunell made similiar calls to other victims in the Lehigh Valley, said Fountain Hill police Investigator Sam Del Rosario.
Police said they received harassment reports from nine victims in the 600 block of South Lynn Street. Each victim told police they received lewd phone messages through an internet relay service intended for the deaf and hearing impaired.
Brunell would type messages on his computer, and the service would then call the desired phone numbers and read the messages aloud, according to police.
Each victim reported receiving the messages, which contained "lewd, lascivious, and obscene language," between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. over a four-day period starting May 22.
Investigators said they were able to track the source of the calls to Brunell, who was taken to Lehigh County prison for arraignment.
