Fake stabbing claim lands two in hot water
By Frank Abderholden fabderholden@stmedianetwork.com November 5, 2012 6:26PM
Robert Soria
Updated: December 7, 2012 6:13AM
ANTIOCH — Instead of taking a stab at the truth, an Antioch man who accidently stabbed himself while drinking convinced a friend to help concoct a story for police.
After authorities unraveled the story, the pair were charged with filing a false police report and obstructing justice.
Robert Soria, 24, of Antioch decided the truth was too much to handle after he stabbed himself with a knife and called his friend Joshua Hayden, 24, of Antioch, who told him he needed to go to the hospital because of the severity of the wound to Soria’s abdomen. They knew they would have to tell hospital personnel a story.
The story they came up with Oct. 28 on their way to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee claimed Soria was stabbed in a downtown Antioch alley after a verbal altercation with an unknown suspect.
“Antioch Police Department detectives spent numerous hours traveling to Milwaukee, conducting interviews and reviewing surveillance tape in an effort to investigate this case. We will not tolerate police resources and taxpayer dollars being wasted on false claims,” said Police Chief Craig Somerville.
Soria was charged with disorderly conduct, a Class 4 felony, for filing the false police report. Hayden was charged with obstructing a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor, for providing false information pertaining to the investigation.
“Anyone contemplating filing a false police report should be forewarned: We will seek felony charges and restitution for time spent investigating false allegations,” said Somerville.
A Class 4 felony is punishable by one to three years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $25,000 upon conviction. A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by imprisonment up to one year and/or a fine of up to $2,500 upon conviction.
