Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – An alarming social media reaction to the call of a shooting in Gulf Shores at the Traditions apartment set off some frightened messages on Sunday, Nov. 6.

“For the last hour there has been 12 police cars, ladder truck, sheriff, ambulance and a helicopter in Grand Traditions apartments in Gulf Shores,” one post reads. “It's been said someone has been shot and they are searching for the shooter. Yet no one has been notified in the community and I have not seen any news or reports online. Residents here are very concerned, for the well-being of their neighbor and their own safety.” Several similar messages were left on social media sites.

Det. Carl Wittstruck of Gulf Shores Police said the call was to 911 where someone said they had been shot. In between the time of the call and his department receiving the call the original 911 call was somehow leaked to the public. City first responders went racing to the scene after the report of a shooting.

“Someone leaked out that portion of the report to social media but at the end of the day it was handled by Gulf Shores and there was nothing to it as far as a shooting was concerned,” Wittstruck said. “It came out as a shooting so that’s why the response was as it was. It turned out to be a subject suffering from a mental breakdown. Combined, probably, with the use of some illegal narcotics. We have identified him and we’ve spoken to him.” (Photo of leaked transcript is below this story.)

The Gulf Shores Police Department put out this press release:

On Sunday, November 6th at approximately 5:38 PM Gulf Shores Police Officers responded to the Colonial Grand Apartment complex, located at 6061 Colonial Parkway in regards to reports of a person being shot. Multiple 911 calls were made reporting that a male subject was in the parking lot of the apartment complex screaming for help and that he had been shot.

When officers arrived on the scene a male subject was found in the breezeway of an apartment building, claiming that he had been shot by two unknown individuals. Officers began administering first aid but could not locate any gunshot wounds on the individual. Medical care was turned over to the Gulf Shores Fire Department who transported the individual to the Gulf Shores Emergency Room for further evaluation, however, it was confirmed at the hospital that the individual did not suffer any gunshot wounds.

Officers set up a perimeter around the complex, collaborated for assistance from outside agencies, and began locating witnesses. Officers and detectives conducted multiple interviews of residents who reside in the area, however, no information was obtained that corroborated the events as reported.

The individual who reported being shot was subsequently arrested after his release from the hospital. Joseph Desmond Ferrell, 43 years of age, from Foley AL, was charged with Rendering False Alarm (13A-10-8).

He has a documented history with other Baldwin County law enforcement agencies for reporting similar false events and is currently on an ankle monitor for a previous Rendering False Alarm arrest.