A Georgia teen was put behind bars last week after she falsely told her friend she had been shot.
According to Fox Atlanta 5, the incident took place on July 29 in Valdosta, a small city located about three and a half hours away from Atlanta. Local police said 17-year-old Tanija Hallman texted a friend around noon and told her she had been shot but was unable to call for help.
The friend then dialed 911 and gave the dispatcher Hallman’s address in Lowndes County. A number of officers reportedly began making their way to the residence when Hallman informed her friend it was all a joke. The officers still needed assurance that the girl was OK.
The outlet reports that officers went to the provided address and couldn’t locate Hallman. They continued to search the area before finding the teen safe and sound at another home. When pressed about her shooting claim, she allegedly told police the text was simply a prank she had seen on social media.
“Our officers responded in full emergency mode to this so-called prank,” Chief Leslie Manahan told Fox Atlanta 5. “Not only were our officers’ lives at risk, but also so many people who were traveling on our roadways as emergency vehicles were responding. Due to the nature of this call for service, our officers had to spend time to ensure that no one had been injured, which pulled them from answering other emergency calls. We will continue to prosecute anyone who falsifies a crime for social media attention.”
Police were issued a warrant for Hallman’s arrest shortly after, and she was taken into custody the following day. She was hit with three misdemeanor charges: reckless conduct, false report of a crime, and unlawful conduct during a 911 call.
