On July 18, 2019, at approximately 4 p.m., officers with the Fort Walton Beach Police Department conducted a follow-up interview with the reporting person, Geosie Mitchell, which resulted in her arrest.

Mitchell, a 21-year-old Okaloosa County resident, initially reported that two male subjects attempted to kidnap her and place her into the rear of a gray van in the area of Ferry Park. During the initial investigation, using information provided by Mitchell, the Fort Walton Beach Police Department issued an alert to the community and surrounding law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the van and two occupants.   

On July 17, 2019, an Okaloosa County Deputy Sheriff received a tip from a member of the community about a location of a possible van matching the description of the one used in the alleged crime. Deputies searched the area and conducted a traffic stop on a van matching the description which contained two individuals. Detectives from the Fort Walton Beach Police Department responded to the scene and conducted interviews with the occupants of the van and processed it for any physical evidence which led to the follow-up interviews with the alleged victim.

During today’s follow-up interview with Mitchell, she admitted to detectives that she lied about the entire incident and at no time did anyone attempt to kidnap her. Following Mitchell’s confession, she was arrested for making a false report to law enforcement authorities which has a penalty of up to one year in jail.