Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- Even though the person who placed an emergency call leading to a 7-hour standoff hasn't been identified, she could still have to foot the bill.
"With the number of people that we had, and how long it was, it's gonna be expensive," said Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. "A lot of these people were on their day off when we called in our special response team so we're talking about time and a half overtime for that so it's gonna be a substantial amount."
Deputies were called to Fornhill Court in The Summit neighborhood around 1 a.m. Saturday morning. They say a woman called and said she was being held hostage by her boyfriend inside a home there.
Hours later the father of the ex-boyfriend came out of the house. He said he didn't hear officers outside because he is a heavy sleeper.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says his department doesn't have an exact dollar figure on how much was spent, but they'll ask a judge for to consider ordering the person who made the false claim to pay up.
"Once the individual is identified and we make the arrest, then that's one thing that we'll present to the judge. How much manpower we put in and how much it cost county taxpayers and then ask that we be reimbursed, it doesn't mean it's gonna happen, but we'll ask and find out," he said.
The Richland County Sheriff's Department is still looking into who made the false claim.
Deputies say the woman who made the call will be charged with filing a false report and illegal use of a telephone.