A Whopper of a Lie Fails to Get Driver Out of a Bunch of Traffic Tickets

A 23-year-old Chicago man afraid of getting a traffic ticket in Oak Lawn apparently couldn’t come up with a persuasive excuse to talk his way out of the situation — so he reported a fake shooting, according to prosecutors, to draw officers away from his traffic stop.

Jorge Navarro Jr. was pulled over at 95th Street and South Kilbourn Avenue at 2:40 a.m. Sunday, according to prosecutors, and was about to be cited for open alcohol container, speeding, failure to wear a seat belt, driving without lights and improper lane usage. Navarro thought he might get away if the officers were called away, so he called 911 and reported that he’d heard eight shots and a man was lying on the ground on Kilbourn, according to prosecutors. Several squad cars sped to the scene.

Police then asked him if he’d made the call, and he admitted he did. Now, in addition to the traffic offenses, Navarro, of the 300 block of South Artesian, faces a felony charge for the fake 911 report