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Phillip Gillam, Minot, charged for a third time this year with harassing emergency personnel by making 911 calls while drunk

Phillip Andrew Gillam, 28, Minot, is charged for the third time in less than six months with harassing emergency personnel by misusing the 911 system, a Class A misdemeanor, in Minot. Gillam was drunk at the time.

On this occasion, Gillam also allegedly pulled a knife on a friend in the presence of police and the friend had to wrestle the knife away from him early Thursday.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the district court, Gillam called 911 at 12:10 a.m. Thursday, said he needed help and then hung up. He called back a few minutes later and did not speak while he was on the phone. Gillam had called Minot Central Dispatch three times on Wednesday evening, at about 11:36 a.m. and did not have a reason for his calls. Police responded to 625 15th Street SE, No. 72, and spoke at the scene with Gillam’s girlfriend. They informed her that if police had to return to that address, Gillam could be arrested for harassment. After Officer Zackery Myers finished speaking with the girlfriend, a dispatcher informed him that Gillam was on the phone again and refused to get off the phone. Myers knocked on the door and spoke with the girlfriend again. As he was speaking with her, he saw Gillam walk out of the bedroom to take a shot of vodka. His friend told Gillam he could not have the vodka without permission from him. Gillam then went to to the refrigerator to get beer and the friend said the beer belonged to him and Gillam could not have one. Gillam said he needed help and the police would not help him. Myers asked what he could do to help and Gillam did not answer Myers. Gillam became aggravated, reached into a drawer and pulled out a knife, which he brandished on his friend. Myers pulled out his taser and requested backup. Gillam’s friend wrestled the knife away from Gillam and set it on the counter. Another officer then arrived on the scene and Gillam grabbed the knife again. Myers and the other officer advanced on Gillam, after the knife was out of his hand, and handcuffed him. Myers took Gillam to the Ward County Jail. He was also issued a citation for detox.

Gillam was scheduled to make an initial appearance on the latest misdemeanor harassment charge against him on Thursday before Judge Stacy Louser.

Gillam previously pleaded guilty to two Class A charges for misdemeanor harassment of emergency personnel and was fined.

On Feb. 8, he called an emergency dispatcher and asked if they like marijuana. He then called a second time and did not have an emergency to report. He had made three previous calls to 911 on Feb. 7 and had made repetitive calls to the crime prevention office on Feb. 8, all without reporting any emergency situation. Police responded to Gillam’s residence on Feb. 8 and found him lying on the floor, heavily intoxicated and slurring his words. Police took him to Trinity Hospital to be checked out and, after he had been cleared, took him to the Ward County Jail where he had a .34 BAC – more than four times the legal limit to drive – on a preliminary breath test measuring alcohol content. He was fined $500 for that offense.

On March 12, Gillam called 911 and made a false report that his girlfriend was having heart trouble. The ambulance was called and responded at 2:21 a.m. but it was not needed. Gillam was also drunk at that time. He was fined $500 for the second Class A misdemeanor harassment charge.

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