11-Year-Old's Prank Ends in Felony Charge

Summary

In July 2023, 11-year-old Ava Lee triggered a major law enforcement response by falsely reporting a kidnapping via 911 text messages. Claiming to follow an armed kidnapper's van on the interstate, Ava’s pranks led authorities on a wild goose chase. Upon investigation, it was revealed that she was home in Port Orange, not on the road, and had fabricated the story after watching a YouTube prank video. Ava was arrested and charged with making a false report, highlighting the serious consequences of misusing emergency services and the importance of responsibility.

Takeaways

• 😀 A 911 text was sent by 11-year-old Ava Lee, claiming she was following a kidnapper's van on the interstate, which led to a massive law enforcement response.
• 😀 The phone number that sent the text was traced to Ava's home in Port Orange, raising suspicions about the authenticity of the reported kidnapping.
• 😀 Ava's parents were unaware of the situation and confirmed they were at home when the supposed incident occurred.
• 😀 Deputies discovered that Ava's phone had made several 911 calls and texts, though she initially claimed she dialed by mistake.
• 😀 Ava admitted to getting the idea for the prank from a YouTube challenge that encouraged people to call 911 with fake emergencies.
• 😀 Ava's actions prompted a response from multiple police departments, a helicopter, and law enforcement resources, which were wasted on a false report.
• 😀 The deputies emphasized the serious consequences of false reports, warning Ava that her actions could have resulted in dangerous accidents and potential fatalities.
• 😀 Ava initially tried to blame her 7-year-old brother for the prank, but authorities confirmed she acted alone in making the false report.
• 😀 Ava's phone had been receiving strange calls before the incident, raising concerns about potential issues with the device's settings or apps.
• 😀 After being Mirandized, Ava faced the consequences of her actions and was arrested for making a false police report and misusing 911, leading to her being processed at a Juvenile Detention Center.

Q & A

What prompted the initial 911 call and text messages?

The initial 911 call and text messages were sent by an 11-year-old girl, Ava, who claimed she was following a van involved in a kidnapping on the interstate. She described a victim being restrained inside the van and provided details about the suspect's appearance.

How did authorities react to the 911 call?

Authorities, including local police, deputies, and a helicopter, were dispatched to search for the van based on the urgent messages. The response was swift and involved multiple law enforcement agencies, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.

What did authorities discover when they traced the phone number?

When the phone number used to send the texts was traced, it was found to be located at a residence in Port Orange, far from the reported location on the interstate. This raised suspicions about the authenticity of the emergency.

What did Ava's parents say when law enforcement arrived?

Ava's parents were initially confused but cooperative. They informed law enforcement that they had been at home and had just returned from Pennsylvania. When the deputies asked about Ava's phone, they were unaware of her involvement in the false report.

What was the outcome when Ava's phone records were examined?

Upon examining Ava's phone records, deputies discovered she had called 911 multiple times, including once mistakenly at 9:30 a.m., claiming she dialed the wrong number. Later, her phone sent the false text messages reporting the kidnapping.

Why did Ava make the false 911 report?

Ava admitted to making the false 911 report as part of a prank inspired by a YouTube challenge. She thought it would be fun to recreate a 911 prank she had seen in a video.

What serious consequences did Ava's actions have on law enforcement?

Ava's actions led to a significant waste of law enforcement resources, including a helicopter and multiple police units responding to a false emergency. This caused a potential risk to officers' safety and diverted resources from real emergencies.

How did Ava respond when confronted by deputies about her actions?

When confronted, Ava initially attempted to blame her younger brother for suggesting the prank. She later admitted to making the false report but struggled to grasp the full consequences of her actions.

What charges were brought against Ava, and what was the outcome?

Ava was charged with making a false police report concerning the use of a firearm in a violent manner (a felony) and misuse of 911 (a misdemeanor). After processing at the Family Resource Center, she was transferred to the Volusia Regional Juvenile Detention Center.

What lesson did the deputies try to impart to Ava during the interrogation?

The deputies emphasized the serious consequences of her prank, including the potential harm it could have caused to law enforcement officers, and urged Ava to understand that her actions were dangerous and irresponsible. They warned her that she could face severe consequences for wasting emergency resources.