A couple in Clearwater, Florida called 911 last Wednesday after their car got stolen.  And they wanted the cops to treat it seriously . . . so they lied and claimed their three-year-old SON was in the backseat.

They’re facing charges for misusing 911 and filing a false report.  But that’s not even the weirdest part of the story.

Because the guy who stole the car ended up in a high-speed chase with about 15 cops.  And in the middle of it, a random guy who WASN’T a cop ALSO started chasing him.

According to police, the guy was swerving in between their squad cars . . . hit speeds of 85 miles an hour . . . and actually got in front of them at one point to LEAD the chase.

He eventually had to stop when he got back behind one of the cop cars . . . followed too closely . . . and plowed into the back of it.

He’s a retired 60-year-old guy named Charles Long, and he said he joined the chase because he wants to be a cop and thought he was helping.

He’s facing charges for reckless driving.  And the guy who stole the car ended up crashing, and got arrested for grand theft.

(WFLA)