Austin police officer Kris Stein walks back to his squad car as police figure out a robbery is a false alarm at Dairy Queen Thursday night. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Police have taken a woman into custody and turned her over to mental health officials after receiving a call of a robbery at Dairy Queen last night. The call was a false alarm.

Police dispatch received a call Thursday evening from a woman only answering yes and no to dispatch’s questions, and when asked if it was a robbery, she said, “yes,” according to Police Lt. Rene Phan.

The Austin Police Department and Mower County Sheriff’s office set up a perimeter when the woman they believe made the call came out. She wasn’t an employee, and police aren’t sure why she allegedly made the call.

Inside Dairy Queen, Phan said, it was business as usual.

“I’m glad it’s not what we thought it might have been,” he said.

Austin Dairy Queen owner Kathy Weins, who was working at the time, said employees didn’t know what was going on until police arrived. Another employee said the woman had been sitting at a booth in the corner for about 45 minutes when she asked to use the phone. After using the phone, the employee said the woman walked outside, and police immediately surrounded the store.