Cops have arrested a young girl after she falsely reported that her friend had been kidnapped in what she later revealed was intended as a funny prank inspired by a YouTube challenge.

Young Ava Rose Langone from the city of Port Orange, Florida State, USA, ended up handcuffed after texting cops that her 14-year-old friend had been abducted by an armed man on Wednesday morning, 26th July.

She was later charged with making a false police report on the use of a firearm in a violent manner, a felony, and misuse of 911, after which she was transported to a juvenile detention centre.

Police revealed that it all began when a dispatcher at the Sheriff’s office received a suspicious text message from Ava who claimed that her 14-year-old friend had been kidnapped and she was following in a blue Jeep at 9.45am.

She reportedly continued giving cops false updates for the next hour and a half, including descriptions of the male suspect who she claimed had a gun.

Volusia Sheriff’s Office said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “Ultimately, deputies were directed to a home in Port Orange by investigative means tracking the cell phone used to text 911.”

But when deputies arrived at the girl’s home at 10.23am, and spoke to her father, he revealed that the girl had been inside with her family all along.

When police officers approached her she was reportedly holding the mobile phone in her hands. Cops witnessed the emergency dispatcher ringing at the same time.

Having realised that her actions were uncovered Ava told the officers she got the idea to prank them through a YouTube challenge.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood said: “This kind of prank activity is dangerous – we’re going to investigate every incident but today it wasted valuable resources that might have helped someone else who legitimately needed our help.”

A video released on the Facebook page of the Volusia Sheriff’s Office shows Ava handcuffed prior to her transportation to the Volusia Regional Juvenile Detention Center.

In the recording an officer can be heard saying: “Stay calm. You can talk to your parents, we can open the window and let you talk to them.

“Nothing’s gonna happen to you, do you understand that?”

Another cop then continues: “I’m telling you this right now, you gotta take this as a lesson at 11 years old and if you do something stupid in the future you’re gonna enjoy those cuffs.”

The girl then says through tears: “I’m not going to do this again.”

And the first cop concludes: “You know, this is gonna be an opportunity for you to turn this into a learning experience.

“This is not something you’re gonna carry with you for the rest of your life, okay?”

Volusia Sheriff’s Office said: “The sheriff warns parents how important it is to closely monitor kids’ use of social media.

“The Volusia Sheriff’s Office is hosting several community forums – beginning Monday – to help parents protect their kids from Internet dangers.”