Police In Columbiana County charge several with false reporting
LISBON, Ohio - A Salineville woman faces falsification charges for lying to police about being kidnapped, robbed and beaten.
Jean Hill appeared in court to answer to charges of lying to police.
On July 5th she reported to police she was driving along rural Cameron Road in Columbiana County when she stopped to help a woman walking with a baby. She told police that baby turned out to be a doll and that two women jumped her. She says they began going through her belongings, and hit her over the head.
"She claimed she was attacked and beaten and abducted into Mahoning County and dropped off placed in the bed of her pickup truck and from there she drove herself to Salem Hospital," explained Columbiana County Sheriff Chief Deputy Allen Haueter.
But police say Hill's shocking tale is completely false.
Detectives began to find holes in her story and she refused a stress voice test.
"Once they interviewed her she signed a written statement to the effect that she had lied about what had happened that day," said Chief Haueter.
Hill declined comment as she left court. She requested a public defender and could face a $1,000 fine and 180 days in jail.
And she's not alone.
Earlier this year Samantha Rager told police she was raped at a New Year's Eve party, but later pled guilty to falsification.
Last August Boardman resident Lisa Beihoff was pulled over by OSP for improper pass and in a police report said the trooper said "if she would have shown the officer her breast, she would not have gotten a ticket." Police say dashcam video and audio disprove the claim.
And in July last year Judy Winski of Wellsville claimed a man beat her with a steel pipe. But police say they discovered he was at work at the time.
It's difficult to say how much money false reporting costs law enforcement. It's safe to say it's at least thousands of dollars in manpower hours and time in the field. It's money that counties like Columbiana, with the lowest revenue for its size in the state, can't afford.
"When we have cases like this that prove to be non productive or false, it ties up a lot of resources," said Columbiana County Commissioner Mike Halleck.
All of the recent accusations have alleged very serious, felony charges.
"The charge of falsification should fit the degree of crime," said Chief Haueter. "We're talking felonies and they're only getting misdemeanors. But that's the laws are written."
That could change with a law proposed by Ohio State Senator Capri Cafaro called Caylee's law. It hat would make lying to police a felony.
