A central Illinois man faces felony charges after allegedly concocting a story his car being stolen with a 13-month old child inside that triggered a statewide Amber Alert.
The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports that the charges of obstructing justice, disorderly conduct and motor vehicle burglary against 18-year-old Mitchell Dutz of Mason City stem from a Dec. 15 incident in Farmington. Police say Dutz reported to police that he was inside a gas station when three people stole his car.
But police soon determined Dutz made up the story to cover up a drug deal. There was never a missing child and gas station surveillance video didn't reveal any vehicles matching the one Dutz described.
Lutz pleaded not guilty Wednesday and a judge set his bail at $50,000
