Fake car-jacking with child report made to get faster police response

Vehicle owner and friend charged in false car-jacking report Saturday

(Car-Jacking suspect, Chicago, Mugshots: Male: Jeremy L. Ingram, DOB Nov 19, 1992, and female: Zada Williams DOB Jan. 1, 1997)

Two Chicago residents were charged Sunday with making false car-jacking and child abduction claims to Cicero Police in the theft of their car in Cicero. The two suspects falsely claimed their vehicle had been “car-jacked” with a 4-year-old child abducted in the vehicle’s back seat, according to Town of Cicero Police officials.

The two individuals, male Jeremy L. Ingram and female Zada Williams, who filed the false Police 911 reports, have been charged with Felony Disorderly Conduct. Both individuals will appear in bond court Monday morning with a preliminary hearing set for Tuesday March 13 in Maywood (room 101 at 9 am).

The initial 911 call was made at 1 pm on Saturday. Suspects Jeremy L. Ingram and his female friend Zada Williams initially reported their car had been car-jacked. The alleged car-jacking had taken place at 5011 W. Cermak Road (22^nd Street) in the Town of Cicero.

03-03-18 Zada Williams car theft felony charged, side mugshot

03-03-18 Zada Williams car theft felony charged, front mugshot

03-03-18 Jerry Ingram car theft felon charged, side mugshot

03-03-18 Jerry Ingram car theft felon charged, front mugshot

Cicero Police immediately responded to the car-jacking claim, conducting a search of the area and checked video surveillance in the surrounding area with local businesses and retail establishments. They also alerted surrounding police agencies of the vehicles identity seeking assistance.

As the investigation was proceeding, Williams, at the urging of Ingram, called 911 and falsely claimed that Ingram’s nephew was in the back of the car-jacked vehicle. Williams is the actual owner of the vehicle, a 2010 red Chevy Malibu.

Fearing the fate of the 4-year-old child, Cicero Police stepped up the investigation by issuing an all-points-bulletin to all surrounding police agencies to assist in the location of the vehicle and now missing child.

The report was forwarded to the Illinois State Police Emergency Network (I.S.P.E.R.N), surrounding suburban police departments, and the Chicago Police Crime Prevention Information Center (C.P.I.C.). Additional detectives were also notified and responded to assist the search for the child’s recovery.

During the investigation, Police discovered an inconsistency in the initial report and the 2^nd 911 call made by Williams. Ingram had told police his nephew was 4. Williams reported in the 2^nd 911 call that the child was only 2-years-old.

Ingram and Williams eventually admitted the information they provided about the car-jacking and the child was all fabricated, but that their car had been stolen. They said they lied to create a higher priority search for their stolen vehicle.

Ingram was at the police station when the admission was made. Police contacted Williams and she came to the station where she was also arrested after admitting that no child had been taken. Ingram and Williams are currently in the custody of the Cicero Police Department.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office was notified and after a review of the case, felony charges were approved. Both Ingram and Williams were charged with one count of felony disorderly conduct and are scheduled to appear at bond court in the morning in Maywood. The two suspects have a scheduled preliminary hearing for 9 am March 13, 2018 in Room 101 in Maywood.

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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