Man claiming to be a killer arrested

TYLER, Texas, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A man in Texas who called 911 and said he had murdered someone was arrested for making a false report, police say.

Tyler police said Mark Anthony Johnson, 38, called the emergency number about 7 p.m. Monday and said he had just killed someone and was still armed, the Tyler Morning Telegraph reported Wednesday.

"Several officers with the department responded "Code 3" (running full speed with lights and sirens) to the scene," police said.

However, officers said Johnson told them he had been assaulted earlier in the day and made up the story of the homicide because he thought it would make police respond faster.

He was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor count of making a false report. Police said they were investigating his reported assault.

Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer Don Martin said the case was unusual.

"This is not the norm and especially to this degree. We've had people report false crimes, but for someone to call saying they have committed a homicide just to get us there quicker is not the norm," he said.