San Bernardino Sheriff’s officials weren’t laughing when three teens staged a carjacking resulting in delayed responses to nearly 40 emergency calls on April 1.
A group of four teenagers, ranging in ages from 18 to 19, were at the In-N-Out Burger in Victorville Tuesday evening when a 911 call was made reporting a stolen vehicle.
“When one of them was in there they thought it would be funny to pull this joke on their friend,” said Susan Rose, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
The victim of the prank came out of the restaurant and noticed one of his friends lying on the ground.
The friend said someone had punched him and taken off with the victim’s 1999 black Infinity, fleeing east on Bear Valley Road, deputies said.
Twelve patrol units and a sheriff’s helicopter responded to the incident where they determined it was a fake report.
Whenever a call like this comes into the station, Rose said, it takes priority.
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The call came in during a busy time for the station, she added.
Ashraf Drieas, Luis Garcia and Drue Mendoza were booked into jail on charges of making false reports and delaying or obstructing an officer, misdemeanors.
