(Fort Worth, TX) —  A Fort Worth man is facing charges, accused of lying to police about his three-year-old daughter being missing.

Police say they were checking out a call about a suspicious person at the Falcon Ridge Apartments on Boca Bay Drive late Wednesday night when they found John Jerald Ratcliff searching for the girl.  Investigators say he told them he thought the toddler may have walked to her babysitter’s apartment.  Police searched for the girl through the night, until about 6 a.m. Thursday.  That’s when a neighbor told officers that Ratcliff has no children.

Ratcliff is accused of filing a false police report.  Police say the hoax wasted precious resources.