BONIFAY — A Westville woman was arrested Tuesday for allegedly filing 28 false reports of child abuse in an attempt “to create havoc,” according to the Bonifay Police Department.
Jessica Elizabeth Combee, 38, was arrested and charged with 28 counts of false report of child abuse and each count is a third-degree felony. The reports dated back to August and were focused on two distinct homes. After subpoenas were served on Internet providers, investigators discovered Combee was the link between the two homes, police reported.
“This is just one example of how people use the ‘system’ to carry out their agenda against whomever they felt has done them wrong,” said Bonifay Police Chief Chris Wells. “The time and effort spent by law enforcement and DCF investigating these false reports could have been better used helping others who were really in need. I hope that this case will get the attention of others who might think twice before reporting something they know to be untruthful.”
On some days, the Florida Abuse Registry was receiving multiple reports from Combee, Wells said.
In October, the police began investigating some of those false reports of child abuse/neglect submitted to the Abuse Registry. The investigation began after numerous unfounded reports were filed reporting alleged abuse in two separate households. The local Florida Department of Children and Families provided necessary information that led to subpoenas for records from two internet providers. The subpoenaed records led police to Combee.
When interviewed by law enforcement as to her motive for filing such reports, Combee responded, “to create havoc,” police reported.
Combee was arrested Tuesday and taken to the Holmes County Jail with a $28,000 bond.