Eastern Michigan University student's carjacking claim was fabricated, police say
An Eastern Michigan University student who claimed she fought off a carjacker on campus last week made up the story, EMU police said today.
Eastern Police Chief Greg O'Dell said the student admitted today that she fabricated the incident. He declined to discuss why or what else she told investigators.
The student called police the evening of Sept. 30 and said a stranger attempted to carjack her around 9:11 p.m. in the Oakwood south commuter lot, which is bordered by the Mark-Jefferson science building and Bruce T. Halle Library.
The 24-year-old student told police she got into her car and noticed a stranger sitting in the backseat. She said the man demanded her keys and threatened to harm her if she didn't cooperate.
The student claimed she punched the man in the face, injuring her hand, and he ran from her car.
O'Dell said campus police launched an investigation that included stepping up patrols, interviewing people who were in the area and searching for witnesses.
O'Dell said the case will be submitted to prosecutors to determine whether to charge the woman with filing a false police report.
Filing a false police report of a felony crime is a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine.
Comments
jeremy
Fri, Oct 9, 2009 : 8:58 a.m.
Not only should they be prosecuted, but should have to repay the police departments for the man hours that were used to investigate the false claims. Maybe if they are hit with a record and financially people will stop wasting cops time with their need for attention.
steve339
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 7:51 p.m.
dawhood..."Thank God that there was no profiling being done.!" What?? So...trying to find the Suspect is wrong? You must be confusing "Racial Profiling-using ethnicity as the primary factor in assuming someone is guilty" and "Searching for the Suspect that matches the description given by the Victim". But hey, lets just blame the police for trying to do their job and not the "Victim" for lying.
David Briegel
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 5:46 p.m.
And we don't need mental health care along with health care? We can't afford to continue locking up every nutcase. Health care and mental health care is less expensive!
dawhood
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 4:23 p.m.
Well life goes on; I'm giad that the police got to the truth. Submitting false police reports has caused a lot of Grief to many innocent people. Thank God that there was no profiling being done.!
Wolverine3660
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 3:44 p.m.
Both the U-M student and the EMU student need to be prosecuted for filing false police reports and for wasting valuable and scarce police resources. Furthermore, both also need to be expelled, admins ought to not buy into excuses like that they suffered from mental health problems or whatever cockamanie story they come up with to justify their misbehavior
11GOBLUE11
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 3:37 p.m.
What is wrong with these people? There was the UofM Med School student last week who claimed to have been robbed or assaulted on W Stadium whose story turned out to be fabricated. Isn't life complicated enough when one is in school? Poor decisions and lessons need to be learned. Prosecute them both.
UM Rocks
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 3:26 p.m.
Unbelievable. Like there isn't enough REAL crime; now people are making stuff up. She should be prosecuted.