Warrant filed for 21-year-old EMU student accused of making up armed robbery
Eastern Michigan University police are attempting to get a 21-year-old Dearborn Heights man to turn himself in after a warrant was filed Monday accusing the man of reporting a false armed robbery.
EMU Police Chief Bob Heighes confirmed Washtenaw County prosecutors approved a charge of false report of a felony against the Dearborn Heights man Monday. He’s wanted for telling police four men with a handgun robbed him in the university’s Green Lot on Nov. 2.
Heighes said police have been in contact with the man.
“We’re trying to get him to come in and get him arraigned,” Heighes said.
AnnArbor.com will release the man’s name once he’s been arraigned.
EMU officials sent out a crime alert to the university community on Nov. 2 after the man reported the robbery. He told police four men approached him, one of whom had a handgun, and demanded money. He said they punched him in the face after he gave them his wallet.
The next day, the man retracted his statement after police showed him surveillance camera footage of the area where he said he’d been robbed. According to police, there was no video evidence that the incident ever occurred.
The maximum sentence for filing a false report of a felony is four years in prison.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Lovaduck
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 12:04 a.m.
WHY do people continue to do this? I'd love to hear from psychologists, etc. on this continued problem.
Angry Moderate
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 11 p.m.
Why did this case result in charges when other recent false report cases have not? Does it depend on the gender of the liar?
nickcarraweigh
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 10:42 p.m.
I'd like to learn what this is all about. The motive must be a whopper.
RJA
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 9:59 p.m.
He deserves to get all four years. Our officers don't have time for this crap.
Mark Hergott
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 9:48 p.m.
I thought this guy's story was fishy from the start, and said so. Turns out I was right. Why can't I be right about nice stuff?
FrankOZ
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 8:39 p.m.
What is it with all these false reports?
Lola
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 9:08 p.m.
I know! Two in the news just today.
Jonathan Blutarsky
Mon, Dec 3, 2012 : 8:20 p.m.
If this guy was smart he would turn himself in and apologize like four years of his life depended upon it... And then get some help with what ever issues caused this.