Woman falsely accuses taxi driver of sexual assault, police say

A woman reported a rape in Liberty Lake last week, but an investigation showed that the allegation was false and the police are seeking to file charges against the woman, said police Chief Brian Asmus.

The woman called police the afternoon of Jan. 11 to report that a taxi cab driver had raped her earlier that day after dropping her off at her residence in the 24000 block of East Spotted Owl Lane. The taxi company’s records showed that the driver she accused wasn’t anywhere near Liberty Lake that morning, Asmus said.

Witnesses said a taxi did drop the woman off that morning but identified the driver as someone other than the man she accused, Asmus said. The police said the woman admitted she had lied when confronted by investigators.

“She wouldn’t tell us why,” Asmus said. “She was highly intoxicated.”

Investigators have asked the prosecutor’s office to charge the woman with making a false statement to a police officer.

Other calls Jan. 11-18

Jan. 13: Officers served a search warrant at a residence in the 22000 block of East County Vista Drive. They arrested Randle K. Phelps on suspicions of a possession of burglary tools and possession of stolen property.

Jan. 14: A resident in the 19000 block of East Indiana Avenue reported that a friend of his daughter’s had taken two compound bows valued at $3,000 from the home. The man retrieved his bows and informed police he did not want to press charges.

Arrests: Officers made one arrest for driving under the influence, one for driving with a suspended license and one for reckless driving.