Cornell University Police is conducting an investigation into an apparent prank in Fall Creek gorge and requests that anyone with information contact investigators.

Cornell police received a call Aug. 9 at 8:41 p.m. reporting a sighting of a "body" on the rocks below the Suspension Bridge on campus. The Ithaca Fire Department, Ithaca Police and Cornell Environmental Health and Safety department also responded. Using floodlights and binoculars, police and fire personnel determined that clothing laid out in the gorge did not contain a body. Since it was after dark and recovery would have entailed dangerous rappelling down the side of the gorge, the determination was made by the agencies that further inspection would wait until morning.

Early today (Aug. 10), fire department personnel rappelled into the gorge and determined. that articles of clothing had been deliberately laid out to look like a body.

"This is an irresponsible act that caused unnecessary risk for emergency response teams, as well as for members of the community," said William G. Boice, director of Cornell Police. "This type of prank will not be tolerated. We will deal firmly with persons who perform reckless acts."

In April 1997, two Cornell freshmen were charged with reckless endangerment and referred to the campus Judicial Administrator for an April Fools Day prank in which they placed a dummy at the bottom of Cascadilla Gorge, causing a full emergency response by campus and city safety units. Two fire department personnel rappelled into the dangerous, icy gorge, at great risk, to retrieve the "body."

Boice asks that anyone with information about the Fall Creek gorge incident call (607) 255-1111.