A fake report of a child drowning in a pond behind a hotel in Crystal Lake prompted a police and fire department emergency response Saturday evening.
The Crystal Lake Police Department and Crystal Lake Fire Department responded around 8:30 p.m. Saturday to the Holiday Inn Chicago NW Crystal Lake, 800 South Route 31 in Crystal Lake, for a water rescue.
A 911 caller reported a person drowning in the pond behind the Holiday Inn, according to emergency radio traffic.
Officers arrived first before the fire department and were unable to locate anyone in distress.
The 911 caller then told dispatchers she may have heard of the drowning in a dream, according to emergency radio traffic.
Court records show officers made contact with the caller, identified as Carrie L. Kussin, 44, of Woodstock.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said Kussin was staying at the Holiday Inn when she made the report.
Kussin called 911 for the purpose of making a false alarm, the complaint said.
The complaint said Kussin reported that a child was in a pond and the child was struggling and yelling for help.
Multiple fire department units responded to the scene and began a search at the pond but discontinued the response approximately 15 minutes later.
The complaint said Kussin knew there were no reasonable grounds for making the call and knew that it could result in an emergency response from a public safety agency.
Kussin was arrested and charged with false alarm or complaint to 911, a Class 4 felony.
She was transported to the McHenry County Jail where she is awaiting an Initial Appearance Court hearing, which is set for Monday afternoon.