BRUNSWICK, Maine — A couple staying at a local homeless shelter allegedly called police to report a robbery in order to fabricate an excuse for missing the shelter’s curfew.
Brian Bois, 31, of Brunswick was arrested Wednesday night and charged with making a false public alarm or report, a Class D misdemeanor, according to Deputy Chief Marc Hagan of the Brunswick Police Department.
Just after 10 p.m. Wednesday, police went to an alley off Gilman Street where a 21-year-old Brunswick woman reported that she and Bois had been the victims of a robbery. The couple told police they’d “been jumped” by three people wearing dark clothing, hoods and ski masks. They said the assailants punched them, kicked them and stole their cash, Hagan said.
The couple was taken by a Brunswick rescue crew to Mid Coast Hospital after reporting neck and back injuries.
Brunswick police called detectives, as well as a Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office police dog, which was unable to detect any evidence of the alleged attackers, Hagan said.
After further interviews by police, Hagan said that “the female subject admitted that it was a false report.” She reportedly told police that she and Bois were late getting back to the Tedford Shelter for check-in and “apparently needed a story,” according to Hagan
The woman said Bois threatened her and coerced her into calling police, according to Hagan.
Bois was taken to Cumberland County Jail in Portland and held on $300 bail. No charges were filed against the woman.
Bois is scheduled to appear in West Bath District Court on Jan. 15, 2015.