Reservoir Swimmers Trigger Emergency Response False Alarm

UPDATE—Emergency responders were summoned to Wednesday afternoon for what they were told were swimmers in trouble.

Dive teams, swift water rescue crews, air support and others—about 18 units in all—were prepared to plunge in to the water after receiving the distress call.

There was only one problem: No one was actually in danger.

A woman perched on the Dulaney Valley Road bridge, overlooking the reservoir, saw two swimmers who appeared to be in trouble in the water, according to Baltimore County police spokeswoman Julia Hardgrove. The woman called 911 and waited for the cavalry to arrive.

When the rescue teams reached the shore, it was determined that the swimmers were not in trouble, according to police. 

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works, which governs Loch Raven, has on multiple occasions urged people to not swim in the reservoirs.

• Patch: (May 30)
• Towson Times: Loch Raven, Prettyboy and Liberty reservoirs off limits to swimmers (June 22) 

The rescue effort didn't go unnoticed by passersby who alerted Patch via email and Twitter Wednesday night and Thursday to the sights and sounds of flashing lights and sirens. (See photo)

Swimmers caught in the water will be charged with trespassing and could face a $1,000 fine. In 2011, 1,376 warnings and 222 citations were issued for swimming in the three Baltimore County reservoirs, according to public works.

The two swimmers in this case will likely be charged with trespassing, according to the Baltimore Environmental Police Capt. Luke Brackett.

Brackett said his officers cited 12 swimmers on July 4, between all three Baltimore County reservoirs.

CORRECTION: Baltimore Environmental Police Capt. Luke Brackett's name was spelled wrong in an earlier version of this article. Patch regrets the error.