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Authorities: Waukegan Man Tells 9-1-1 Dispatcher 'I Just Killed 19 Students'

(CBS) -- A Waukegan man has been charged after authorities say he called 9-1-1 and told the dispatcher, "I just killed 19 students."

61-year-old Robert Simmons has been charged with felony disorderly conduct and is being held on $50,000 bond.

"I would say it's very extreme to call up a police department and say you've just killed 19 elementary school students," said Detective Christopher Covelli of the Lake County sheriff's office.

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Covelli said authorities started calling schools to make sure everything was all right.

"We took it very seriously until we could determine that this was a prank phone call," he said.

Covelli said it didn't take long for investigators to Simmons. He said Simmons does have a record of making hoax calls to 9-1-1.

"I'm not certain if it rose to this extreme level, but it rose to the level of harassment where he was criminally charged," Covelli said.

Simmons admitted making the call but didn't say why, Covelli said.

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