Police in the US arrested an 11-year-old girl for allegedly falsely reporting that her friend had been kidnapped after she was inspired by an online challenge.
Officers with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office in Florida, as well as Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange police, all responded to the report after it came through via text at 9:45am local time on Wednesday morning (26 July).
The dispatcher at the Sheriff’s Communications Center reported that they received a text about a suspicious incident claiming a 14-year-old had been abducted 'by an armed male driving a white van on South I-95 in Oak Hill'.
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The 11-year-old is said to have told police she was following her friend in a blue Jeep, and after receiving the text the various deputies launched a search for the vehicle which had been reported.
Officers were unsuccessful in tracking down the car, but the Volusia Sheriff’s Office said in a statement the 11-year-old continued to text updates about the situation for the next hour and a half.
"The girl texted updates including a description of the male suspect and that he had a gun,” the sheriff's office said.
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"Ultimately, deputies were directed to a home in Port Orange by investigative means tracking the cell phone used to text 911."
Police arrived at the home on Poppy Lane and made contact with the 11-year-old girl's father, who told police his daughter was inside the home with her family.
“As deputies approached the girl, she was holding her cell phone, which was ringing as she walked out to meet the deputies," police continued.
"When answered, Volusia Sheriff’s Dispatch was on the line and deputies verified they were on scene."
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When questioned about her actions, the 11-year-old is said to have told police she came up with the idea to prank 911 after seeing a challenge on YouTube.
According to police, the girl thought the prank 'would be funny'.
Needless to say, Sheriff Mike Chitwood didn't agree.
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He criticised the move, 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."
Chitwood also used the opportunity to warn parents about the importance of monitoring children's social media use.
After the 11-year-old was tracked down, she was arrested and charged with the felony of making a false police report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner, as well as the misdemeanor of misuse of 911.
Following her arrest, the girl transferred to the Volusia Regional Juvenile Detention Center.
Topics: US News, Crime, Social media, Parenting
Emily Brown