Which offense is committed when a person makes a false report of a criminal offense or emergency to a peace officer or emergency service and knows the report is false, causing an emergency response?

• A. False Report to induce Emergency Response
• B. False Alarm or Report
• C. Harassment
• D. Stalking

Answer: (A)

Knowingly making a false report of a crime or emergency to a peace officer or emergency service with the purpose of triggering an emergency response.

The crucial elements are that the report is false, the person making it knows it is false, and the report is made to someone who can initiate a police or emergency response, resulting in responders being dispatched. This differentiates a true mistake from a knowingly false claim intended to elicit help. An example would be calling 911 to say there’s an armed robbery when there isn’t, fully knowing the report is false, to get police to respond.

Harassment and stalking involve repeated, unwanted contact or following someone and are different offenses. A general “false alarm or report” might cover false alarms to a system but doesn’t capture the specific element of knowingly making a false report to law enforcement or emergency services to cause a response.