Several users have submitted this troublesome tale of Verizon Wireless customer service (or lack thereof) in Ohio. According to the Dover Times Reporter, an area-man busted up a local home and then fled the scene after taking "several bottles of pills." When local police began the search for the man after responding to a domestic disturbance call, they contacted Verizon to try and use his cell phone to track his location. However, Verizon wouldn't help the Sherriff until he agreed to pay $20 of the missing man's overdue phone bill:11 hours, two K-9 units, several fire departments and 100 volunteers later the man was found unconscious and in serious condition, but no thanks to Verizon. The man was found just as the Sheriff was finalizing the arrangement to pay Verizon their $20. We've sent an inquiry to Verizon to see if there's more to the story than a service representative being obnoxiously unhelpful. It's not clear if the man would even have the phone on him if the account had been frozen for some time, or if the phone was broken/off.

Update:"Verizon Wireless apologizes for our mistake," says company spokesman Jeff Nelson. "This particular issue has was quickly resolved," he says. "We will work to ensure our exemplary service to our nation's first responders is on track, and we remind law enforcement to use our 24-7 hotline for public safety needs."