KTRV Fox 12 Hate crime appears self Inflicted
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Boise, Idaho -- Police are investigating an alleged false police report that just a few days ago focused on finding those responsible for beating up a gay man along the Boise greenbelt.
After the supposed hate crime occurred, some students got together and held a vigil denouncing the act and calling for an end to bigotry. But today we find out the vicious attack that got everyone worked up was actually nothing of the kind.
"It was actually rather frightening at first. I was scared to death for him," said Markus Jenkins, after hearing his friend had been victimized Nov. 9.
At the time, another friend told Fox 12 that quote "frat boys" were responsible.
A portion of that e-mail read, "This heinous act proves that the good-ole-boy mentality of the back woods small town evangelical Christian community lacks the true Christian kindness they profess."
"It just blows me away," recounted Jenkins.
Back on Nov. 10, we had been notified that an unidentified gay man had been beaten somewhere along the Boise greenbelt, somewhere behind Boise State University. Now we find out from Boise Police that not only did it not happen that way, but that according to a confession, the man did it to himself.
At this point, we've chosen to respect the man's anonymity, though according to his own e-mailed statement, he confirms meeting with authorities writing, "I wanted to inform everyone that I went to the police station today and said that nothing happened."
But "nothing" isn't exactly true.
According to a police statement, the 20-year-old BSU student confessed to detectives the report was fabricated, "(he said) that he used a stick and his fists to self-inflict his injuries, and that other evidence connected to his initial report had also been fabricated."
Certainly a relief to the Greek community, that at one time was under some suspicion of a vicious hate crime.
"It's very frustrating as an organization to be under suspicion for any incident, especially one you know you're not responsible for. I don't think the focus should be on us for this, I should be why does somebody feel the need to lie about this? Why does someone feel the need to use deception to heal intolerance," asked Nick Leonardson, Kappa Sigma chapter advisor.
"So as far as why it happened, I don't really understand why," explained Jenkins.
Some suspected it might have happened in response to Idaho voters recently approving an amendment to the Idaho Constitution that bans gay marriage.
Jenkins doesn't believe that's really the case here. Right now he's more concerned about his relationship with his friend, a friendship that might be little strained for a while.
"It's going to make a difference yes. Do I still stand behind him, absolutely," said Jenkins.
And it's a time when his friend is going to need that support, especially while prosecutors consider pressing charges -- a decision that at least some students agree should occur.
"I think that would be appropriate, also a public apology or at least an explanation. I think the question on people's minds is why would you do this," said Leonardson.
Again, Boise Police have forwarded their findings on to prosecutors for possible charges.
Filing a false police report is a misdemeanor with a penalty of up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
