'Negatively impact other victims': Woman lied about being sexually assaulted in Walmart bathroom, police say

An 18-year-old Kentucky pistillate is accused of lying to constabulary astir being sexually assaulted successful the bath of a section Walmart earlier this month, sparking an aggravated investigation. Autumn L. Tomlin was taken into custody connected Tuesday and charged with 1 number of felony mendacious reporting of an incident, authorities announced.

"Allegations of this quality are incredibly superior and request to beryllium thoroughly investigated earlier conclusions are made, not lone for the integrity of the probe but for nationalist safety," the Glasgow Police Department said successful a statement. "It is important to stress that our bureau investigates galore reports of intersexual assault. The overwhelming bulk are morganatic crimes involving existent victims. False reports negatively interaction different victims who privation to study their trauma, portion besides undermining nationalist spot and diverting captious exigency resources."

According to a news release from the department, officers connected Feb. 4 responded to the Walmart Supercenter successful the 2300 artifact of Happy Valley Road regarding a study of a intersexual battle that allegedly took spot "inside the Walmart restroom." In summation to patrol officers, detectives with the department's Criminal Investigations Unit besides responded and "immediately issued a thorough probe into the allegations."

The section said it treated the intersexual battle assertion "with the seriousness specified allegations demand."

However, arsenic the probe progressed, constabulary said they obtained integer and carnal grounds that "refuted the legitimacy" of Tomlin's claims. Investigators did not merchandise immoderate further details of Tomlin's supposedly mendacious claims.

Police further urged the nationalist to "exercise caution" regarding rumors and speculation being circulated connected societal media.

"Inaccurate accusation tin origin unwarranted fear, nationalist outrage, and unfairly discredit the professionalism and grooming of responding officers who are pursuing the protocols successful spot to analyse allegations successful their totality," the merchandise said.

Tomlin was transported and processed astatine the Hart County Jail connected Tuesday and released connected Wednesday, according to the region sheriff's bureau website. She is presently scheduled to look successful tribunal for her arraignment connected March 16, per tribunal records.