Texas sheriff: Father lied about baby in stolen Jeep Cherokee in order to get deputies to find it quicker

HOUSTON, Texas (KWTX) - The owner of a stolen Jeep Cherokee - allegedly with a child inside - has been charged with falsifying a kidnapping by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

Anthony Ray Gray, 38, was charged with filing a false report after reporting the kidnapping Thursday morning to get a better response to his stolen vehicle.

KTRK reports Gray was out on bond for DWI at the time of his arrest.

According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, investigators determined the child was never with him, but instead at a relative’s house.

The incident occurred before 5 a.m. Sept. 8 at a C-store in the 22523 block of Imperial Valley on FM 1960 when the man left the Jeep on and entered the store.

The Jeep was found at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 8 in the 16400 block of Eton Block Lane.

According to KTRK, surveillance video obtained showed one individual getting out of the Jeep.