A Vinco-area woman was charged Wednesday with lying to police about being pulled over on Route 219 in Richland Township last week by a man impersonating as a police officer.
Hope Michelle Eck, 27, of the 3000 block of William Penn Avenue, was charged by Richland police with making a false report to police and unsworn falsification to police.
The case is proceeding by summons.
Eck falsely told police that around 9:15 p.m. Thursday, she was pulled over by a car with flashing red and blue lights while driving southbound on Route 219 at the Eisenhower Boulevard overpass. She told police the man driving the car asked her for her license, registration card and insurance papers. As she reached into the glove box to get the latter two, the man struck her in the back, she told police.
Officer Jeff Peters said he spoke with the state police, who are investigating two incidents of a man impersonating a police officer, one in Somerset County, the other in Bedford County. Peters also talked to the defendant several times about the incident.
Her account of what had happened was not adding up, he said.
Peters said he and Detective Kevin Lehman believed she was telling a story to cover up something.
Peters said he and Lehman asked Eck to take a polygraph test Wednesday morning. When she arrived, she said she didn’t want the situation to go any further and confessed to making up the story, Peters said.
Peters said the defendant has a medical issue – a sore back – and figured if she told a story that she was injured in an incident such as that, she could get medical attention at a hospital without questions being asked.
The defendant said she did not know that police had been investigating two incidents of impersonation in the area prior to her report, Peters said.
Local News
Assault story fabricated, police say
- Local News
-
-
Proposed bill would expand use of traffic-light cameras
Some call it the hand of “big brother,” others are convinced cameras at signal lights would be effective in curbing red-light runners and ultimately saving lives.
-
Minister's trial date set
An issue has been resolved over the report from an examination of a girl allegedly taken by her mother to a Bedford motel to have sex with a traveling minister, clearing the way for a trial.
-
AP: Almost half of new veterans seek disability
America’s newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate, claiming to be the most medically and mentally troubled generation of former troops the nation has ever seen.
-
Geistown beginning crime watch program
Residents will patrol Geistown streets in the coming weeks as part of a community watch program.
-
Persons of the Week: Nanty Glo vets will remember fallen comrades
Michael Kurtz, Tom Kasecky and Steve Kasecky will be among members of the Loy A. Douglass Post 3489 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Nanty Glo who will be honoring fallen veterans today, Memorial Day.
-
AG candidates face potential conflicts of interest
Both candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general have family ties that could pose a conflict of interest for the one who is elected as the state’s next chief legal officer.
-
Lawmakers: Capitol rallies unpersuasive
Nancy Richey stepped to the podium with a microphone at the Capitol rotunda with the hope that the right people would hear her message.
-
Richland closer to new chief
The search for Richland’s next police chief is winding down.
-
In brief: Thunderstorm downs trees, knocks out power
A late Sunday afternoon thunderstorm brought high winds, hard rain and hail to the Cambria-Somerset region.
- District Deaths May 28, 2012
- More Local News Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
