Depression led to self-injury, man told police

Kenneth Koch, the man who said he was assaulted and robbed for his groceries last week, actually cut himself with a knife because he was depressed about the upcoming holidays, police said.

When a friend asked about his injuries, Koch – who is 68, not 87 – made up the story rather than admit to self-mutilation, police said. Koch maintained his story after his friend took him to the hospital and contacted police.

Koch said he’d been roughed up by three men near a Safeway store at Mission Avenue and Hamilton Street as he traveled home to the O’Malley Apartments in his wheelchair. He described the attackers down to their clothes and facial hair.

But detectives reviewed surveillance footage and determined Koch hadn’t been at the store, said Spokane police Sgt. Joe Peterson. When officers interviewed Koch a second time, he admitted to the fabrication.

By that time, residents had contributed enough money to a local radio station to buy him a $100 grocery gift card.

“He’s already spent $33 of the $100,” said Spokane police Officer Jennifer DeRuwe. But police didn’t think Koch intended to get money from people.

Koch told police he plans to pay back the money.

It was unclear if Koch had received other donations, police said.

“Spokane is a great community and has a tendency to rally when people are in need, and I don’t want people to be discouraged by this,” DeRuwe said. “But this also validates why law enforcement needs to look into claims, because we can’t take everything at face value.”

The county prosecutor’s office will decide whether to charge Koch with filing a false report.