CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – A woman has been charged with false report after Clarksville police said she lied about a carjacking incident to avoid a DUI charge in a crash.
Emergency responders were tied up for hours responding to the woman’s carjacking report on Feb. 7 around 10:10 a.m. The 911 center received multiple calls about a wrecked Dodge Ram on McAdoo Creek Rd. which had hit a tree, but no one was in the vehicle.
A short time later the false report suspect, Brittany Lee, called 911 and said she was injured and had been the victim of a carjacking. She told dispatchers that the suspect crashed the pickup into a tree and fled the scene on foot.
As the story unfolded, officers were given a detailed description of how the alleged carjacker jumped into Lee’s vehicle at a stop sign near Madison Street, displayed a handgun, told her to get in the back seat, and then got into the driver seat before crashing the truck and leaving the scene.
After law enforcement was made aware of the situation, at least 15 officers, EMS, and Fire Department officials were involved in the response. Tennessee Highway Patrol also used a helicopter to try to locate the suspect and East Montgomery Elementary School was locked down for safety concerns.
As the investigation progressed, police determined determined a carjacking never took place and there was no suspect.
Police said Brittany Lee crashed into a tree and fabricated the story to cover up driving too fast and possibly being under the influence of drugs.
“Emergency responders were tied up for over two hours chasing this contrived event,” Clarksville police spokesman Jim Knoll said.
After the crash, Brittany Lee sustained injuries which delayed her being booked into jail. She was taken into custody on March 29. When she was arrested, officers found methamphetamine on her person. She was booked and charged with: FALSE REPORT AND METHAMPHETAMINE VIOLATION; Bond: $5,500.
