Amber Alert Hoax: Man Lied About Baby In Stolen Car, Cops Say

FARMINGTON, IL — After an Amber Alert was issued Saturday for a 13-month-old baby boy, police in Fulton County, near Peoria, say the story was fabricated, and there was no child in danger. Mitchell Dutz, who reported his vehicle stolen and claimed the child was kidnapped, now faces charges after police say he made up the story after he was robbed during a drug deal.

The Amber Alert said the child was taken along with a stolen 2000 Ford Taurus from a Circle K in Farmington, located about 25 miles west of Peoria.

On Sunday, Fulton County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency said at around 5 p.m. Saturday, Dutz called the Fulton County Sheriff's Office and said his car was stolen by three suspects while he paid for gas.

But his story unraveled when he was interviewed by police, according to the agency.

"During the interview process it was determined that Dutz had fabricated the entire story," authorities said. "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. At no time was an infant abducted or was there any car stolen."

The suspect named by Dutz was not involved in any way, according to police.

Dutz is charged with residential burglary, making a false police report, false representation of police statement and making a false 911 call. "Various other charges are pending," police said.

Before the hoax was revealed, the Fulton County ESDA issued an alert Saturday night saying the purportedly stolen vehicle was last known to be in the Bartonville area at around 6 p.m. A press briefing was held just before 9 p.m., before police learned the story had been fabricated. The organization later updated the post to say the child abduction story was a hoax.

According to the Peoria Journal-Star, a man who identified himself as one of the suspects listed in the Amber Alert posted a Facebook Live video from the East Peoria Steak-n-Shake denying the kidnapping.

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