PD: 16-year-old charged for faking daughter's kidnapping

PHOENIX - A 16-year-old mother is facing child abuse charges after falsely reporting her 1-year-old daughter had been kidnapped by a group of armed men Saturday.

Phoenix Police Department spokesman Tommy Thompson said the teen called police around 8:30 p.m., claiming a group of men had kidnapped her baby at gunpoint near 67th Avenue and Van Buren Street.

"She was frantic and made us believe what she said was true," he said.

A significant police presence was called in to assist in the west Phoenix search.

Shortly before 11 p.m., a K-9 unit located the 1-year-old sleeping in her stroller in a greenbelt behind some bushes near 67th Avenue and Fillmore Street. Thompson said she did not appear to be harmed.

"There is no telling what could have happened," said Thompson.

According to police, it was later discovered the teen left the baby there, "because she was having difficulty coping with the responsibilities of motherhood" and didn't feel her family was providing the support she needed.

Child Protective Services was contaced and the baby was left with family members. The 16-year-old was detained and charged with child abuse.

Thompson said with any number of services in the community a teenager in this situation can get help if they need it.  He even said officers can help should things seem desperate.

"A 16-year old mom has some challenges ahead," he said.  "But doing this was the wrong way to go."