Man calls 911 looking for sex

TAMPA - Tampa Police say Joshua Basso called 911 early Wednesday morning. But this was no emergency; at least not as far as police were concerned.

"He called up and asked her if she had a nice chest area, to put it in politically correct terms," according to Laura McElroy with The Tampa Police Dept.

Basso they say, was looking for sex. He made approximately four attempts to get it by calling 911.

Here is a snippet of the call:

Operator: Tampa Police, 911, what's your emergency?
Caller: What's up? Um, can I talk to you for a sec?
Caller: What are you wearing?
Caller: You got a nice butt?

Most of the 911 calls are not suitable for broadcast. Even through some rough language and heavy breathing, police say the operator was able to keep her composure to track Basso down.

Operator: Give me the address and I can get you some help.
Caller: You gonna get me some help?
Operator: Yeah if you give me your address.
Caller: You're going to come see me?
Operator: Yeah.

Police went to see him alright. When they showed up at his apartment on North Nebraska Ave., he had locked himself in the bathroom.

"I was trying to get in the bathroom," explained Brad Gowens, who also lives in the home.

Gowens says Basso had been in there all morning and wouldn't come out.

"He kept saying it was somebody else in there. 'Oh I'm Bill in here'," added Gowens.

Basso finally emerged and eventually gave himself up. Police say misuse of the 911 system is a serious crime.

"It all seems like fun and games until that 911 operator is tied up and can't take a call from someone who really does need help," according to McElroy

Basso was arrested on the spot and told police he's done this before.

"When the officer asked him 'well, why would you call 911?' he said 'well, because he was out of minutes and 9-1-1 is free'," added McElroy.

Basso remains in jail on $500 bail and faces a misdemeanor charge of misuse of the 911 system.