DOUGLAS COUNTY — A heavy law enforcement response involving armed officers, police drones, and assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office ended after authorities discovered a reported home invasion in Lawrence was entirely fabricated by a group of children.
The incident began just after 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 6, when Lawrence Police dispatched nearly half of the officers on duty at the time to the 100 block of Yorkshire Drive, southwest of Iowa Street and Peterson Drive.
A young boy and his sisters told police that an armed man had broken into their basement through a window and threatened them while their mother was upstairs. The children claimed the boy hit the intruder with a baseball bat, sending the suspect running from the home. Crime Scene Investigators processed the scene while officers and drone units scoured the surrounding neighborhood, but found no trace of a suspect.
The search escalated around 12:30 p.m. the following day when police were called back to the residence after the children reported that the intruder had returned.
Investigators ultimately brought the children to Lawrence Police Headquarters to interview them individually. During separate conversations, detectives learned that the entire story was a hoax and no suspect had ever entered the home.
Rather than pursuing criminal charges, detectives spoke with each child about the severity of their actions and the critical importance of honesty.
“To any neighbors who may have been in fear during the police search, thank you for your patience and assistance,” the Lawrence Police Department shared in a media release following the investigation.
