Weeki Wachee woman arrested after calling 911 for a ride to Tampa

A Weeki Wachee woman’s request for a ride to Tampa ended in handcuffs after deputies say she treated 911 like a late-night transportation line and then called again after authorities had already responded.

Denise Marie Soto, 26, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was arrested after what deputies described as repeated misuse of the emergency system outside a local bar-restaurant in Weeki Wachee. Authorities said Soto dialed 911 asking for a ride back to Tampa after spending the night there. When dispatchers and deputies responded, she allegedly was unhappy with the answer she received and declined to speak with law enforcement.

More than an hour later, deputies said, Soto called 911 again even after deputies had already been on scene. This time, she asked for another response that included a supervisor. Investigators determined there was probable cause for misuse of the 911 system, turning what began as a strange request into a criminal case.

Florida law says 911, E911 and NG911 service must be used solely for emergency communications. Using the system for a purpose other than obtaining public safety assistance is a first-degree misdemeanor. In Hernando County, where deputies and dispatchers handle calls involving crashes, medical emergencies, fires and violence, the misuse of an emergency line can tie up personnel who may be needed elsewhere. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office also maintains a live public portal showing active CAD calls, a reminder of how constantly those resources are in use.

Soto was taken into custody after the second response, authorities said. As deputies tried to escort her to the patrol vehicle, she allegedly pulled her arms away and braced herself on the ground to avoid being placed in the car. She was charged with resisting an officer without violence and misuse of the 911 system.

She was booked into the Hernando County Detention Center, and bond was set at $2,000 total, or $1,000 on each charge. The case unfolded in Weeki Wachee, now part of unincorporated Hernando County after state legislation in 2020 abolished the former city government and transferred its assets and liabilities to the county. It is the latest reminder that 911 is reserved for real emergencies, not a ride home.