Last week the nation was gripped in fear over the welfare of a 6 year old boy allegedly floating across the Colorado sky in a helium balloon. Evidence is not coming to light that the parents filed a false police report in order to gain free publicity and they are about to be prosecuted for it.
In Alaska, filing a false police report is a crime under Alaska Statute 11.56.800 and Anchorage Municipal Code 08.30.050. Conviction for the filing of a police report can result in jail time up to one year and a fine as much as $ 200,000.
The resources of our state and local law enforcement are strained enough without being sidetracked by false reports so it makes good sense that we have such a law. On the other hand, the reporting of crime should not be deterred. The line between whether someone files a false police report or made a mistake may sometimes be blurry so it is important that prosecutors and the court system look at these cases hard before subjecting an individual to criminal prosecution.
If you have information regarding someone who has filed a false police report, your information should be provided to the police. If you have been accused of filing a false police report, you need to contact a criminal defense attorney. To find a criminal defense attorney, you should call the Alaska Bar Association Lawyer Referral Line: 272-0352.
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