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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sheriff’s Office: Alleged stabbing victim stabbed self

No charges for 17-year-old

A teenager who told authorities he was stabbed in a robbery attempt late Tuesday night said in a subsequent interview he’d staged the incident himself, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said. Authorities were looking for a suspect in the incident, which occurred near the 6600 block of W. Bernhill Road around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to investigators. The Washington State Patrol stopped a car carrying the teen to the hospital around 1 a.m. Wednesday. The 17-year-old initially told deputies he was stabbed in a robbery attempt while jogging near Colbert. He said a man with breath that smelled like “garbage” spun him around, demanded a wallet and then stabbed him in the right shoulder. A follow-up interview with the teen, who is recovering at Holy Family Hospital, revealed the incident was staged and that he’d stabbed himself, according to a news release. No criminal charges are expected to be filed against the 17-year-old, the Sheriff’s Office said.