11-year-old Florida woman hit with felony prices for 911 kidnapping prank

An 11-year-old Florida woman was arrested Wednesday for phoning in a prank kidnapping report back to police, simply days after an Alabama lady admitted to crafting her personal abduction hoax.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office stated the woman was charged with a felony of constructing a false police report regarding using a firearm in a violent method and a misdemeanor of misuse of 911.

Authorities stated the woman first texted dispatchers that her 14-year-old pal was kidnapped by an armed man in a white van round 9:45 a.m.

The woman advised police the imaginary suspect was driving south on Interstate 95 in Oak Hill and she or he was following shut behind in a blue Jeep. Her common updates through textual content brought on a large — but fruitless — seek for the abductor.

“Multiple deputies responded, along with Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange police and Air One, to search for the suspect vehicle, but no van was found,” the sheriff’s workplace stated.

Authorities stated they traced her cellphone to a house in Port Orange, the place they arrived round 10:20 a.m. They spoke with the woman’s father, who stated she was inside the home.

Deputies confronted the woman whereas she was receiving a name from the Volusia sheriff’s dispatch, which confirmed that authorities had discovered the supply of the kidnapping report.

The woman advised responding deputies that she discovered concerning the 911 prank from YouTube and thought it “would be funny.”

“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,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood stated.

The preteen’s prank name got here after an legal professional for Carlee Russell admitted Monday that the Alabama lady spun a tall story about her personal abduction this month — which may additionally lead to felony prices.

Ms. Russell initially known as 911 on July 13 saying she noticed a toddler strolling alone on the aspect of the interstate close to Birmingham.

The 25-year-old then vanished, turning into a nationwide information story within the course of.

Ms. Russell returned residence two days later. She stated she was compelled into the again of a tractor-trailer and held captive for 2 days earlier than making her escape.

Authorities in Hoover, Alabama, questioned Ms. Russell’s story after cellphone data revealed she seemed up a film a few lady’s abduction and researched one-way bus tickets to Nashville, Tennessee.

Her legal professional got here clear on her behalf this week.