A young girl had to learn the very hard way about what happens when someone makes a false report…
An 11-year-old from Florida was taken into police custody on Wednesday after authorities say she falsely reported that her friend had been kidnapped! According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, her little stunt turned out to be part of a YouTube challenge.
The sheriff’s office explained that the girl sent a text to 911 saying that her friend was abducted by an armed man who was driving a white van down Interstate 95 near Oak Hill, Florida, ABC Action News reports. The girl also made a note in the text that she was in a blue Jeep following her 14-year-old friend from behind. While she was providing in-real-time updates, deputies were directed to a home in Port Orange, Florida. When they arrived, the sheriff’s office said they talked to the 11-year-old’s father, who said his daughter was actually inside the home at the time!! Deputies heard the girl’s phone ringing as she was receiving callbacks from dispatchers. The sheriff’s office said the girl eventually admitted that she reported the kidnapping as part of a YouTube challenge and told them she thought it “would be funny.” However, it turned out not to be for the young one as she didn’t expect this to happen next…
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The child was placed in handcuffs in front of her dad. He also gave her a lecture about her poor actions. Cops in the background can be heard telling her that “nothing is going to happen” to her while she’s in custody. The father adds, “I’m telling you this right now, you’re going to take this as a lesson at 11 years old that could do something in the future… you’re going to enjoy those cuffs.” Through tears the young girl said, “I’m not going to do this again.”
Per the outlet, she has since been charged with a felony count of making a false police report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner and a misdemeanor count of misuse of 911. In Florida, the minimum age to prosecute a minor is 7.
Making a false report to 911 can have serious consequences, both legally and ethically especially for adults. When individuals knowingly provide false information or make fraudulent claims to emergency services, it not only wastes valuable resources but also puts lives at risk.
From a legal standpoint, making a false report to 911 is considered a criminal offense in many jurisdictions. Depending on the severity of the false report and the jurisdiction’s laws, individuals may face charges such as filing a false police report, obstruction of justice, or even perjury. These charges can result in fines, probation, community service, or even imprisonment.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood addressed the social media challenge in a statement saying: “This kind of prank activity is dangerous — we’re going to investigate every incident but today it wasted valuable resources that might have helped someone else who legitimately needed our help,” he said.