Embarrassed Pa. 'victim' charged with making false report

IRWIN, Pa. (AP) — Police have charged a man with faking a mugging in a hotel tavern bathroom because he was too embarrassed to acknowledge that he passed out and hit his head on a sink.

Reid Hilinski, 23, of North Huntingdon Township, declined comment today.

Irwin police arrested two men after Hilinski told officers they punched him in the face and stole his wallet at the Conley Inn early Oct. 14. Based on Hilinski’s description, a bartender told police about two men staying at the motel and Hilinski confirmed they were his attackers leading police to charge them.

But police Chief Joseph Pocsatko says surveillance video didn’t support Hilinski’s account of the incident.

In an odd twist, the men Hilinski falsely accused remain in jail because police say they’re wanted for unrelated crimes.