A 13-year-old girl who reported being the victim of a hate crime in Woodbridge Friday afternoon falsely reported the incident, Prince William County police said Tuesday.
Police were called around 3:50 p.m. Friday, April 6, to investigate an assault reported to have happened in the area of Jato Court and Riverview Lane in Woodbridge earlier that afternoon, Prince William police spokesman Nathan Probus said in a news release Monday.
A 13-year-old girl told police that she was walking in the area when she was confronted by a black man she did not know. The girl told police that the suspect cursed at him, grabbed her arm, displayed a small knife and called her a "terrorist." The girl also reported that the suspect removed the victim's headscarf and placed his hand over her mouth when she attempted to scream.
Police were investigating the incident as a hate crime and said they believed the victim was targeted because of her religious attire.
But after further investigation, detectives determined that the girl falsely reported the incident and that no altercation took place, Prince William County police spokesman Nathan Probus said in a news release Tuesday.
Police obtained a petition charging the 13-year-old girl with knowingly filing a false police report.
The case will be handled through juvenile intake, police said.
https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/update-police-alleged-victim-falsely-reported-hate-crime/article_c2448934-3c33-11e8-8e82-a7dbd8ef00e4.html