Radio Stations' 'Inmates' Scare Motorists

Friday, August 12, 2005 8:41:52 PM

LAND O'LAKES, Florida (AP) - A radio station stunt that had three listeners dressed up like escaped jail inmates went awry Friday when dozens of people called police. The resulting ruckus tied up traffic during morning rush hour, authorities said.

The three people, shackled and dressed in what appeared to be jail uniforms, were competing to try to get motorists to give them a ride, Pasco County sheriff's spokesman Kevin Doll said. The first one back to the studios of Tampa station WXTB-FM — 98 Rock — would win a trip to Los Angeles in conjunction with a new Fox television show called "Prison Break."

But after 30 or 40 calls from "terrified" motorists and residents, sheriff's deputies responded in force and took them into custody for real, Doll said. They were released after about an hour.

"We took it quite seriously and responded with every available deputy we had in that area," Doll said.

No charges were filed, because the bogus inmates didn't forcefully try to get in any of the cars. But deputies still aren't happy about the stunt.

Doll said Florida law would have allowed motorists and deputies to shoot them if they were seen to pose a threat.

A message left with the radio station wasn't immediately returned Friday.