Police: Western Michigan University Student Made Up Robbery Story
KALAMAZOO (WWJ/AP) - Police say a Western Michigan University student who reported being robbed on campus over the weekend made up the story.
The Kalamazoo school's Public Safety Chief Scott Merlo told the Kalamazoo Gazette that the student's injuries weren't consistent with the version of events he gave police. And then the student spilled the beans.
"During follow-up, he admitted the robbery did not occur," Merlo told the newspaper.
The student originally told police he was walking alone late Saturday near the center of campus when he was knocked to ground by a group of men who stole his money.
Merlo declined to say why the student made up the story, but noted the man was intoxicated and may have fallen.
Police are not sending the case on to the prosecutor's office, but Merlo said the student could still face university disciplinary sanctions.
Western Michigan officials issued an alert following the reported robbery, as well as a robbery of a student that occurred early Sunday. In that incident, which remains under investigation, a male student was accosted by five men who stole his sweatshirt. One of the men told the victim that he had a weapon.
Campus officials are urging students and staff not to walk alone and to be aware of any suspicious activity.
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