Nearly $4,700 in resources were spent investigating prank calls made by a pair of sisters who called 911 on Sunday and claimed to be missing 6-year-old Isabel Celis, Tucson police said.
The girls called 911 three times saying a man was coming for them, giving the name "Isabel" and saying they were kidnapped, according to 911 tapes released Monday.
In the first call, one girl repeats "he's coming" when asked what she was calling to report, before hanging up the phone.
In the second call, a girl says "Isabel" when she's asked what she's reporting. When asked again why she was calling, she replies "I'm kidnapped" and gives the address of "East Old Spanish Trail" when a dispatcher asked where she was calling from. In the third call one of the girls again says "he's coming." When the dispatcher asks who's coming she replies "The guy, he's coming for us, help me."
More than 30 Tucson police personnel, including 25 on-duty patrol officers, three detectives called in on overtime, the commander of the crimes against persons division and four communications staff, spent time on the investigation, which lasted about four hours, said Sgt. Chris Widmer, a Tucson police spokesman.
Police began investigating the call around 9 a.m. when one of the girls called 911 and said she was Isabel and that she had been kidnapped before hanging up the phone.
The call was traced to the 7200 block of East Pierce Place near 22nd Street and South Kolb Road, and officers began going door to door questioning residents and looking in houses, yards and cars with their permission, Widmer said.
Officers found the 9-year-old and 11-year-old girls who made the call at an apartment complex at 1345 S. Kolb Road and arrested them on suspicion of one count each of false reporting to law enforcement, a class 1 misdemeanor. They were both taken to the Pima County Juvenile Corrections Center, where they were later released.
The girls didn't give officers an explanation as to why they made the call. They just said it was a prank, Widmer said.
The Pima County Attorney's Office has not yet reviewed the case and could not comment on what type of charges or consequences the girls could face, said Isabel Burruel-Smutzer, a spokeswoman for the department.
Isabel was reported missing from her midtown home on the morning of April 21. Local and federal authorities have been involved in the investigation but have not yet identified a suspect in her abduction.
Volunteers who have been helping pass out fliers and other items with photos of Isabel and information continue to remain hopeful she will be home soon.
"We're all praying and hoping for her safe return," said volunteer Dan Smidt.
On StarNet: Listen to the 911 calls made by sisters pretending to be Isabel Celis at azstarnet.com/multimedia
Vigil
A candlelight vigil for Isabel Celis is set for later this week. Volunteers invite the community to pray for Isabel and sign a book with thoughts for the Celis family.
• When: 7 p.m. Friday
• Where: Christian Faith Fellowship, 5601 E. Broadway.
Contact reporter Veronica Cruz at vcruz@azstarnet.com or 573-4224.
