Associated Press Release

MONTEZUMA, Ga. (AP) -- A 21-year-old woman is charged with making a false statement to police after starting a rumor that she found a dead baby in the trash.

Montezuma police say Alexis Boland was on her way to work at a dollar store and saw a baby doll in a trash bin. Boland told police she thought it would be funny to play a joke on a co-worker and say she saw a dead baby.

Police say customers overheard Boland telling her co-worker the story and calls began flooding the department. Authorities tracked the rumor to Boland -- who stuck with the story when she was initially interviewed. She later told the truth and said she panicked when police approached her. Boland was arrested Wednesday.

Montezuma is about 66 miles east of Columbus.