Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today Rajeem Scott, 20, of East Orange has been arrested for filing a false police report.
It is alleged Scott falsely reported to the Newark Police Department that he was a victim of a carjacking two days ago. He reported his carjacked at knife point of his 2002 Chevy Malibu by a black male armed with a handgun. He also said the assailant took $70 cash.
A subsequent investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force and a follow-up interview with the alleged victim result in detectives concluding the allegations were false and in fact no carjacking occurred.
“We take these crimes very seriously; we will not tolerate false reports. Filing a false report takes valuable time away from detectives who could be pursuing real crime,” said Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly.