JASPER, Texas — Jasper Police reported to an apartment complex after receiving a seemingly serious text message from a juvenile.
Officials were dispatched to Hope Village apartments near the intersection of Pollard Street and Graham Street in Jasper on Saturday, Dec. 28, around 8 p.m. It was reported that a 14-year-old boy sent a text to 911 saying he had been shot in the leg by his father who had left the scene.
Upon arrival, officers say they knocked on the apartment door and didn’t receive a response. The police breached the door, but authorities didn’t find the boy that sent the message. Instead, police found a female resident and her 5-year-old granddaughter. Officials say the occupants did not know the boy who sent the text to 911.
The police searched the complex and said they couldn’t find anything related to the 911 text.
The boy continued to text 911, authorities said. He told officials he had left the apartment and was at a nearby store receiving help. Officers found this to be false and started to believe the texts were a prank.
Detective Hadnot and School Resource Officer John Hardin were able to locate a 11-year-old boy juvenile suspect by the phone number used in the false 911 text, according to a news release. Officials say the juvenile will be turned over to juvenile probation and will be charged with filing a false report.
The Jasper Police Department stresses the danger pranks like this could create. “Officers entered the home of a person not having any idea of what was happening which could result in either the homeowner or officers being hurt or killed. Charges will be filed in cases such as this due to their serious nature,” Jasper Police Department news release statement.
Jasper Police Department full release..
On 12/28/19 at approximately 8pm Officers from the Jasper Police Department were dispatched to the Hope Village Apartments located at 700 Pollard Street after it was reported that a 14 year old boy had text 911 dispatches and advised he had been shot in the leg by his father who had fled the scene. Officers arrived and knocked on the apartment door but could not get anyone to answer. Officers breached the door and found that the female resident and her 5-year-old granddaughter were fine and did no know the juvenile who sent the text to 911. Officers searched the apartment complex but did not locate anyone needing medical help or anything related to the texts to 911. The juvenile continued to text stating he had left the apartment complex and was at the store near them receiving help which Officers also found to be false. Officers believed at this point the texts were a prank.
On 12/29/19 Detective Hadnot was assigned the case. Detective Hadnot and School Resource Officer John Hardin were able to locate the 11-year-old male juvenile suspect by the phone number used in the false 911 text. The juvenile will be turned over to Juvenile Probation and filed on for False Report – Misdemeanor A.
The Jasper Police Department wants to stress how dangerous a prank like this could be. Officers entered the home of a person not having any idea of what was happening which could result in either the homeowner or officers being hurt or killed. Charges will be filed in cases such as this due to their serious nature.
