According to investigators, Rosemary Martinez-Ortiz called 911 to report her daughter-in-law’s truck was stolen in Houston, but was unhappy with the response time.
The family used a pair of AirPods to track the truck down to Liberty County and called 911 again Monday morning from Liberty County.
According to Captain Ken DeFour, Martinez-Ortiz told the dispatcher that his daughter-in-law had been kidnapped during an armed carjacking.
Immediately, the deputy in North Houston was directed to work directly on the case. Radio communications were reportedly turned off to find the woman in danger, deputies say.
A deputy pulled over a white truck matching the description given by Martinez-Ortiz and questioned the driver about the alleged kidnapping during the search. The driver was released when the deputy learned he was not involved.
Officials say law enforcement found Martinez-Ortiz at a gas station in Cleveland when she broke down.
“When he saw the movement that was going on, cars going back and forth, asking him where his daughter-in-law was, the daughter-in-law was standing next to him,” DeFour said. “She broke down and started being very apologetic. ‘I’m sorry I did that. I only called in the 911 hijacking call so you’d answer me faster than the Houston Police Department when we reported a true stolen vehicle .'”
Martinez-Ortiz has been charged with a felony for a false report and is out on bond.
“When they do this, they are taking the opportunity to tie up resources and manpower from someone who really needs help, whether it’s therapy or whatever,” DeFour said. “That’s a very immature and stupid thing to do for someone.”
It is not clear whether he ever filed a report to HPD about the stolen truck.
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