Ypsilanti teenager charged with falsely claiming he was robbed in EMU parking structure

A 17-year-old Ypsilanti resident who was enrolled in the Early College Alliance at Eastern Michigan University has been charged with falsely reporting an armed robbery on campus in April.

Jonathan Stewart was arraigned Thursday on a charge of false reporting of a felony, which is a felony punishable by up to four years in prison.

EMU Police Chief Greg O'Dell said Stewart called police on April 23 and claimed he was on the top level of the Oakwood parking structure and was walking to his car when he was confronted by a gunman. Stewart said he was robbed of his belongings, but was not injured, O'Dell said.

O'Dell said police quickly determined the case was a false report, before campus police issued a crime alert.

Stewart admitted it was a false report, O'Dell said, but he declined to reveal why Stewart claimed he was robbed.

"It's a waste of police resources, and false reports create a climate of fear that shouldn't exist because no crime has been committed," O'Dell said.

Stewart was released on personal bond and will appear for a preliminary hearing on the charge June 8.