Last week, a report came into Nanaimo RCMP of a youth being assaulted with a knife, but the allegation turned out to be false and led to a large-scale response from police.
At around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 16th, police received the call and responded to the area near the McDonald’s on Bowen Road.
The 12-year-old youth who was allegedly assaulted provided police with a description of the suspect who he said assaulted him.
Police say after mere minutes, officers had detained three individuals, including the man the youth had described to police.
However, after police officers reviewed surveillance footage from where the incident was said to have occurred, they determined that the youth fabricated the whole story and the assault did not happen at all.
“The youth was turned over to the care of his parents,” said R/Cst Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
“Investigators assigned to our School Liaison Unit will be following up with the youth and his parents to ensure the young man understands the gravity of his actions, and to ensure it does not happen again.”
Police say that two of the men detained were released without charge.
Although, the third individual, a 43-year-old man, was arrested on outstanding warrants from Comox and Oceanside RCMP detachments.
After being processed, he too was later released until his next court date, scheduled for November 21st.
