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Lethbridge police have a message for those thinking of reporting a fake crime: you could land up in jail.
That was the fate of a 20-year-old man, who, on Saturday at around 7 p.m., dialed 911 to report a kidnapping in progress.
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He told the operator a friend had just phoned him and said he had been forced in the back of a moving vehicle. The caller also said the kidnappers were armed with bear spray, knives and possibly a firearm.
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Lethbridge police immediately began an investigation led by its criminal investigation section and critical incident team, and with the help of the Calgary Police Service, they located the alleged victim who said he was safe and wasn’t a victim of any crime.
The officers then turned to search for the caller. He was found at his residence at approximately 11 p.m. and was arrested without incident.
Jacob Xander Brown, 20, of Lethbridge, is charged with one count of public mischief, police said. He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court May 8.
“Police remind the public that making a false report to police is a criminal offence and subject to criminal charges,” Lethbridge police said in a statement.
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