Four arrested in Northern New York for false kidnapping report

Four people were arrested in Northern New York, including two people from Champlain, following a report of an alleged kidnapping in Saratoga County.New York State Police said troopers were contacted about the incident on Wednesday afternoon. The caller told police that there was a passenger in a vehicle traveling south on the Interstate 87 Northway in Saratoga County with a handwritten sign that said “help!! being kidnapped!!”A large number of law enforcement officers responded to the area and stopped a car in Malta, which resulted in a temporary shutdown of I-87 south.Four people, including Jasmine Barber, 20, and Emily Ferdinandi, 20, both of Champlain, were detained along with two unnamed 18-year-olds. Police learned that everyone in the vehicle knew that the sign was being displayed as an alleged joke, and no kidnapping had actually happened.Troopers arrested the four people and processed them on a charge of falsely reporting an incident. They are due in the Malta Town Court on Feb. 5.State police stressed that reporting a false kidnapping is a serious crime that takes up valuable police resources. They said it also diverts first responders away from actual emergencies and puts the community in danger.

MALTA, N.Y. —

Four people were arrested in Northern New York, including two people from Champlain, following a report of an alleged kidnapping in Saratoga County.

New York State Police said troopers were contacted about the incident on Wednesday afternoon. The caller told police that there was a passenger in a vehicle traveling south on the Interstate 87 Northway in Saratoga County with a handwritten sign that said “help!! being kidnapped!!”

A large number of law enforcement officers responded to the area and stopped a car in Malta, which resulted in a temporary shutdown of I-87 south.

Four people, including Jasmine Barber, 20, and Emily Ferdinandi, 20, both of Champlain, were detained along with two unnamed 18-year-olds.

Police learned that everyone in the vehicle knew that the sign was being displayed as an alleged joke, and no kidnapping had actually happened.

Troopers arrested the four people and processed them on a charge of falsely reporting an incident. They are due in the Malta Town Court on Feb. 5.

State police stressed that reporting a false kidnapping is a serious crime that takes up valuable police resources. They said it also diverts first responders away from actual emergencies and puts the community in danger.