Dawn Atwood charged with creating false public alarm

ST. ALBANS, Vt. —A 27-year-old woman is accused of faking her own kidnapping.

St. Albans Police Chief Gary Taylor said the department received information on Monday that Dawn Atwood of Williston was possibly being held against her will by an ex-boyfriend and that they could be in the St. Albans area.

According to Taylor, police used Atwood’s cellphone to track her location and then conducted a search within a four mile radius of her location.

At 2:45 p.m. the department learned Atwood was hiding in a Walmart bathroom after escaping while stopped at a nearby gas station.

Officers were able to make contact with Atwood, who was emotional and did not want assistance, said Taylor, noting that the ex-boyfriend was on scene and cooperative with police.

Further investigation revealed Atwood fabricated the story. She was subsequently charged with creating a false public alarm.

Atwood was released on citation and scheduled to appear in Franklin District Court in February.