Iowa: Man Falsely Reported Antigay Attack

A man in Iowa City, Iowa filed a false report when he told police that he was the victim of a hate crime in June.

According to the Daily Iowan, University of Iowa graduate student Ryan Grant Watson was charged Thursday with providing a false report to police. He initially claimed that a black male attacked him in an alley by calling him a gay slur and then hitting him in the face. He then said his body slammed against a wall, causing cuts to his knees, face, and ankle.

However, when police started to follow up on the investigation, they suspected his claim may have not been completely accurate. Police also said Watson started to fabricate his story to others with claims that he had required surgery and hospitalization.

Further investigation revealed that the attack did not occur. Instead, Watson admitted that he was intoxicated and fell while walking down an alley.