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Gene Kennedy ReportingOfficers from seven police agencies rushed to South Jordan when the call of a stabbing was broadcast over their radios. They thought they were helping an 18-year-old man, the so-called victim of a vicious crime.
Now, after a few days of investigating, police believe it was all a hoax.
Police say the victim confessed to planning his own stabbing, admitting that he, the stabber, and a young woman staged the whole thing in an attempt to get attention and sympathy.
They got their attention, but they'll likely pay the price for it-- literally. Seven police agencies will be seeking restitution for the cost of their investigation Friday night. They also plan on filing charges against everyone involved in this so-called "false event."
Originally police thought someone robbed an 18-year-old man at a South Jordan strip mall at 9800 South 500 West, then stabbed him in the chest. A lung was nicked but he did not need surgery and was in stable condition at University Hospital and expected to make a full recovery, police Lt. Matt Evans said Sunday night.
But police say they want their money back for their efforts Friday night, and they plan on filing multiple charges Wednesday.
Until then, we won't know the names of those involved in this incident.
Officers were suspicious from the beginning because of problems with the story, Lt. Matt Evans said.
The victim said he had been dropped off at the mall and someone was supposed to pick him up. Evans said it was not a likely place for him to be dropped off, and when he was stabbed, he was not in front of the mall, waiting for the ride, but was in the back in an area where there was no foot traffic.
"What really broke it lose was when (officers) were trying to confirm information found on a cell phone," he said.
They found text messages on the victim's cell phone describing the incident but recorded before the stabbing occurred, he said.
The incident remains under investigation and the woman has not been booked, but charges are planned, Evans said. He said the charges could include filing a false police report and causing a catastrophe.
"Due to the large nature of the response from multiple surrounding agencies ... that attempted to apprehend a suspect, we will also seek restitution for the resources used," he said.
Agencies involved included the police departments of Sandy, Murray, South Salt Lake, West Jordan, Draper and West Valley City and the metro gang unit.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story)
