This story is sort of bonkers. Jennifer Combs says she would complain on Facebook about the brown water coming out of her faucet in Trinidad, Texas, and then every time the police would show up afterwards.

Eventually, she says, she was arrested.

Here was her post in a group she runs:

Embedded content hidden

Subscribe to view the full article, including all images, videos, and social media embeds.

Subscribe to viewAlready a subscriber? Log in

But what's the full story?

Well, let's ask the Trinidad Police.

The Trinidad Police Department is aware of the statements being circulated in this post and would like to address this matter clearly and responsibly.

At this time, we have not received any confirmed reports from hospitals, medical providers, or any official health agency indicating that citizens have been hospitalized due to bacteria in the water system.

We take public health concerns seriously; however, spreading unverified or false information that creates fear, panic, or unnecessary emergency response within a community is also a serious matter.

Under Texas law, specifically Texas Penal Code § 42.06 - False Alarm or Report, a person commits an offense if they knowingly initiate, communicate, or circulate a report of an emergency that is false or baseless and that would:

• Cause action by emergency services

• Place the public in fear of imminent serious bodily injury

• Disrupt normal public activity or services

Additionally, when such false reports involve public services — such as a municipal water system — the offense may be elevated to a state jail felony.

Remember what they say about believing everything you see on Facebook?

Later in this long Facebook post, Trinidad Police tell us, "The discoloration some residents may be seeing has been explained by the Water Department and is commonly caused by sediment, rust, or minerals being disturbed within older water lines, particularly during maintenance or changes in water flow." They tell us this is all part of "ongoing efforts to improve the system."

They go on to once again remind citizens to seek medical attention if they get sick from the water (you know, so it can be documented).

A few days later they posted this on their page:

I feel it's important to address the false information and rumors that have been spreading regarding the past boil water notice and the arrest made by my department.

First and foremost, the boil water notice was issued as a precaution required by TCEQ due to low chlorine residual levels in parts of our water system. This was done to protect the public while testing and corrective actions were completed.

Let me be absolutely clear: at no point did that notice state that citizens were being hospitalized due to bacteria in the water. Claims suggesting otherwise are simply false and have only caused unnecessary fear and confusion in our community.

Secondly, a thorough investigation was done in regards to the arrest made. It was a very cut and dry case. We submitted a search warrant to Facebook and got all necessary statements required by law to aquire probable cause in regard to Texas Penal Code - PENAL § 42.06. False Alarm or Report to proceed with our warrant.

That's why Jennifer Combs spent the night in jail (and could end up doing much more time than that).

Anyway, I gotta go grab a glass of water...