Macon Police Searching for Wanted Man Possibly Involved in Fake Hostage Call

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Macon police are searching for a wanted man, who may have been involved in a fake hostage situation.

A news release from MPD says a call came in around 2pm Saturday that 32-year-old Samuel Edward Lawrence was hiding in an apartment on Plant Street and possibly holding a hostage.

The SWAT team and police responded to the scene. When they got inside the apartment, no one was there. Lawrence is wanted for several crimes including armed robbery and aggravated assault.

The Criminal Investigation Division is handling the case.

“We believe the phone tip was a hoax and take the false reporting of a crime seriously. We will investigate the origin of that tip. Falsely reporting a crime is a felony and necessitates an unnecessary expenditure of manpower and resources,” says Major Charles Stone, CID.

Anyone with information on the incident, or Lawrence’s whereabouts can call CRIMESTOPPERS at 1-877-68-CRIME, or MPD at (478) 751-7500.