Teens fake kidnapping in West Fargo, face charges in juvenile court

WEST FARGO - Five juvenile girls faced charges last month after police say they staged a fake kidnapping, prompting a 911 call from a worried witness.

Assistant Chief Mike Reitan said dispatch got a call from the witness about 6:30 p.m. April 21, concerning a driver of a car wearing a black ski mask while two passengers in the back had duct tape on their mouths.

The vehicle was located and pulled over in the 600 block of Main Avenue, but the officer quickly found it was a prank, not a kidnapping, Reitan said.

"They thought it would be funny to be driving around pretending to be kidnapped," he said.

Five juvenile females in the car - three 16 years old and two 17 years old - were taken to the police station until their parents came to pick them up, he said.

Reitan said all five girls were referred to juvenile court in Cass County on a disorderly conduct charge.

The girls' names and the status of the charges are not public information, as juvenile cases are private.