Leesburg police officers scrambled to a senior living facility after two 911 calls reported that explosives were in the building’s kitchens.
The unknown caller had stated that she had a “tip” from an unknown source that a “suspicious thing” had been planted inside two kitchens at Lake Harris Health Center, located at 701 Lake Port Blvd. in Leesburg. The woman, who identified herself as “Edward Brown” before disconnecting the call, said she didn’t know if they were “talking about a bomb or what.”
Six Leesburg officers searched both kitchens and additional areas in the facility but didn’t find any explosive devices. It was then discovered that the 911 calls were made from the telephone located at the facility’s hostess desk. And upon review of surveillance footage, 20-year-old Janeicia Dashay Hunter, who lists her occupation as server, is seen taking the cordless phone from the counter at approximately the same time the 911 calls were made, a Leesburg Police report states.
On Wednesday, an officer responded to Lake Harris Health Center and interviewed Hunter. She agreed to speak with the officer and at first denied making the 911 calls. But then she admitted to it, saying she was dared by another employee and it “was just a prank,” the report says, adding that Hunter “showed remorse and stated she was sorry for making the calls.”
After providing a sworn written statement, Hunter was arrested and transported to the Lake County Jail. She was charged with making a bomb threat and released Wednesday night on $5,000 bond.
Hunter, who lives at 209 S Lake St. in Leesburg, is due in a Lake County courtroom on March 25 at 8:30 a.m. to answer to the charge.