Drug deal robbery in Farmington leads to missing child hoax

FARMINGTON, Illinois (NEWS3) — A missing child scare, that led to an AMBER Alert Saturday evening, was revealed to be a hoax.

According to Fulton County emergency management, a 911 call was placed at 5:01 p.m. Saturday by Mitchell Dutz.

Dutz told police that his vehicle was stolen by three men as he paid for gas, while a child was in the backseat.

While police were investigating the abduction, authorities determined Dutz fabricated the story.

“Dutz was allegedly robbed during a drug deal and had used the infant as a way to pursue charges against the alleged persons who robbed him,” Fulton County emergency management wrote on social media, “At no time was an infant abducted or was there any car stolen.”

The alleged suspect, James Jackson, was not involved in anyway.

Dutz is being charged with Residential Burglary, False Police Report, False Representation of Police Statement, False 911 Call, and various other charges are pending.

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