Area authorities' search for "hostages," but call now believed to be a hoax

Scores of law enforcement and search and rescue personnel in Owyhee and Elmore counties spent much of Friday searching for a man who allegedly was holding two 13-year-old girls hostage in the Bruneau desert and threatening to do them harm.

But authorities now believe the phone call that launched the search was probably a hoax, although Owyhee County Sheriff Daryl Crandall is continued to check out back roads in the desert area of eastern Owyhee County.

According to Elmore County Chief Deputy Nick Schilz, a phone call was received at St. Luke's Hospital at 10:58 a.m. in which a specifically identified individual said he was at an unidentified location along a dirt road somewhere in the Bruneau desert and a threat was made involving the two girls he allegedly was with.

The phone call information initially was apparently transferred to the SIRCOM network, which provides emergency service dispatch for Twin Falls, Jerome and Gooding Counties, and routed to the Twin Falls County Sheriff, Schilz said, and from there to the Owyhee County Sheriff's Office, which then also notified the Elmore County Sheriff's Office by 11:30 a.m.

"When we've got a threat to two 13-year-old girls out in the desert, we take that pretty seriously," Schilz said.

Because of past history with people not really knowing where they are, Elmore County conducted a massive search of every back road within five miles of each side of the Snake River, while Owyhee County searched the huge desert region south of the river.

Elmore County called in off-duty deputies, called out its search and rescue team (some members traveled to Owyhee County to help there), and put a plane up in the air to assist with the search.

Meanwhile, Schilz said, Crandall mobilized all his resources, including his Sheriff's Posse and three aircraft to conduct the search.

The person who was identified in the phone call as having taken the girls hostage was from Mountain Home. Deputies and several Mountain Home city police officers tracked him down at his place of work and determined he had a solid alibi for his presence throughout the day.

"He was a real good kid. Has a nice family," Schilz said, "and was very cooperative. He fully understood the gravity of the situation." Schilz declined to identify the man.

Although authorities are now operating on the assumption the phone call was a hoax, Owyhee County authorities are expected to continue their search through at least the rest of the day.

"I hope we catch who made that call," Schilz said. Besides the criminal penalties for making a false crime report "the restitution for all the officers and aircraft that were involved is going to be enormous."