Cleadus J. Taylor (Chicago Police Department)

Cleadus Taylor, 33, sparked a brief manhunt Sunday afternoon after he phoned a Chicago dispatcher claiming his vehicle had been stolen with an 8-year-old girl inside. But on Monday morning, the Chicago Police Department announced it was Taylor who had been taken into custody for allegedly lying to authorities.

But the girl wasn’t inside the car when it was taken – something investigators learned hours later when she was found safe and returned to family.

The vehicle was later discovered a few miles away.

The 8 year old girl has been located safe,and reunited with family. Investigation continues.

— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) November 6, 2017

Calling 911 with a false report is a Class 4 felony in Illinois and punishable by up to three years in prison.

A Chicago man was arrested earlier this year on a similar charge in Geneva after allegedly calling for an ambulance and pulling a fire alarm at his office because he was too intoxicated to work. Last year, another Chicago man was arrested after police say he made 38 anonymous calls in which he falsely reported himself for crimes he did not commit.

Taylor has a bond hearing scheduled Monday.

Follow Matt Masterson on Twitter:@ByMattMasterson

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