February 27, 2019
PRESS RELEASE – Woman Charged With Filing False Police Report / Animal Cruelty
At approximately 1:00 PM Round Lake Park Police responded to the 400 Block of Kenwood Dr. for a report of an injured dog. The responding officer was told by the caller that she had found the injured dog on the front lawn of her home and immediately called police.
The officer transported the dog to Lake County Animal Control for treatment. Animal control administered pain medication to the dog. As medication was being administered rabies tags were located on a collar that were not initially seen by the officer. A computer check identified the owner of the dog. The officer immediately recognized the name as being the original callers name, Juana Navarrete, 30 of the 400 Block of Kenwood Dr.. Followup by officers confirmed the original caller was in fact the complaint the officer spoke to. A review of the recorded call to the dispatch center verified the misinformation provided to police.
Officers returned to the house and subsequently Navarrete was taken into custody admitting to the hoax. She related she let the dog out “ to do its business” after an hour she noticed the dog was missing. She discovered the dog on the front lawn appearing to be injured. She brought the dog into the house and called police. She told officers she couldn’t afford to pay for a veterinarian and called police with the fictitious information.
“It’s incredible someone would go to these lengths, contriving a story when she could’ve easily called for assistance and been steered towards resources.”
Chief George Filenko
Navarrete was charged with:
Filing a False Police Report- Class A Misdemeanor
Animal Cruelty – Class A Misdemeanor
She was released on a personal recognizance bond.
For further information Contact Chief George Filenko at (847) 546-7275