DEPTFORD TWP.-- A report of two armed men at the Deptford Mall early Friday turned out to be a fake call by a man attempting to distract police after he was pulled over in a traffic stop, police said.

Darnell Lewis

Moments after Darnell Lewis, 36, of Deptford, was stopped on Clements Bridge Road at 8:30 a.m., police received a 911 call about the gunmen, police said.

Lewis had warrants for his arrest and made the 911 call in the hopes the officers would abandon the traffic stop as part of the police response to the mall, police said.

Instead, he faces multiple additional charges.

"In light of recent terror related events worldwide, our officers responded as a result of a perceived threat at the mall. Such false reports jeopardize public and officer safety as well as divert police resources from other calls for service," said Chief William Hanstein. "These actions will not be tolerated in our community."

Officers Matthew D'Alton and Louisa Medany, who conducted the traffic stop, determined Lewis was the 911 caller.

Lewis faces charges of hindering apprehension, circulating a false report of impending disaster and creating a false report involving critical infrastructure.

He taken to Salem County Correctional Facility in lieu of $7,500 cash bail.

Caitlyn Stulpin may be reached at cstulpin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitstulpin. Find NJ.com on Facebook.