A Maryland woman charged after AI-generated home invasion prank triggers police response.
NORTH BETHESDA, Md. — A North Bethesda woman is facing multiple charges after police say she used artificial intelligence to stage a fake home invasion in an apparent attempt to prank her husband.
According to Montgomery County Police, 27-year-old Moesha Gardener sent her husband AI-generated images depicting a strange man lying on their couch and claimed someone had broken into their home earlier this month. Believing the threat was real, her husband contacted 911, prompting a major emergency response.
“This is something that should be taken seriously,” said Sheira Goff, a spokesperson for Montgomery County Police. “If we get a call and someone says they’re in crisis or in need, we have to respond.”
Eight police cruisers were dispatched to the scene with lights and sirens, expecting a burglary in progress. But when officers arrived, they found Gardener alone, sitting on her couch with her phone mounted on a tripod — no intruder in sight.
“The husband is actually thinking this is legitimate,” Goff said. “He relays that information to our 911 dispatcher, so now we have multiple officers who are being called from other incidents to respond to something that was not a real emergency.”
Police say officers were responding “Code 3,” a high-priority call that typically involves a serious threat or risk of injury.
Gardener was arrested and charged with making a false report of a crime. She was later released on a $10,000 bond.
“For this particular woman, this is a crime,” Goff said.
Authorities say the incident resembles a growing trend online where individuals use AI-generated content to prank others, sometimes going as far as creating fake emergencies.
“I’ve definitely seen videos of people pranking their significant others with AI images,” said Gabby Guiza, a neighbor. “I just never thought it would go this far — to the point where someone gets arrested.”
Police are now warning the public that hoaxes like this can have serious legal consequences and put lives at risk.
“Swatting calls, making false reports — anything like that — those are against the law, and you will be charged for it,” Goff said.
Officials hope this case serves as a clear reminder: fake emergencies are no joke.
