A Bedford man was taken into custody and charged with 30 misdemeanor counts of harassment after allegedly calling 911 about 17 times over two weeks to ask questions regarding a motor vehicle accident.

Eric Michael Haney, 58, was arraigned Sunday by Magisterial District Judge Kevin R. Diehl on a single count of communications to 911 in addition to the 30 harassment charges. He was remanded to the Bedford County Correctional Facility in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Bedford police were dispatched to an apartment along the 500 block of East Pitt Street, Bedford, to speak with Haney regarding a motor vehicle accident that occurred on March 30. Officers reported having spoken with Haney over the phone earlier that morning to answer his questions on the whereabouts of his vehicle after the accident. During the call, officers reported Haney as being extremely belligerent, slurring his words and giving smart remarks in response to what he was told, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Haney also demanded to speak with the police chief and was advised he worked on Monday. Haney then told officers he needed to speak with the chief immediately and stated “this is ridiculous, I know someone above you is working and I need to speak with him now.” Haney was told again of when the chief worked and the call was terminated, the police report states.

When dispatch notified officers that Haney contacted them again but would not provide a real concern, officers responded to Haney’s residence. On scene, officers told Haney that the chief would speak to him Monday, but that charges would be filed if he continued to misuse 911, the report states.

Dispatch provided officers with documentation of Haney’s calls. Officers found that Haney had called 911 about 15 times between March 30 and April 18 demanding to speak with officers and asking questions that had already been answered. One dispatcher told officers that Haney had demanded their personal phone number so he could call them instead of 911, the report states.

While officers were writing Haney’s affidavit of probable cause, dispatch contacted officers again to tell them Haney had called two more times to complain about officers being sent to his residence. When Haney was advised that the officers followed proper protocol in addressing his misuse of 911, Haney told the dispatcher “I hope you all die” before apologizing and hanging up, the report states.

Haney is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday in front of Diehl.