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Detective Lt. Michael Uttel and Detective Karen Censullo investigated the report and found that 19-year-old Nicholas Conklin “was never parked near nor shopping in Walgreens” at the time he said he was slashed.
Conklin originally said he was walking back to his car in the rear parking lot after buying a pack of gum when he was approached by a man who asked him for money.
When he told the stranger he didn’t have any, he said, the man pulled a “knife-like object” and lunged, slashing him once in the abdomen.
He described the assailant only as “wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.”
Police didn’t initially express skepticism. However, they emphasized that they were continuing to investigate the report.
After being called to police headquarters, he changed his story, Sgt. Brian Metzler said tonight.
“It is now known that Conklin, while sitting in his parked vehicle in front of a family’s residence in Elmwood Park, accidently slashed himself with his own knife,” Metzler said.
“When he returned home, he stated to his parents that he had been robbed and the parents called 9-1-1 for a police response,” the sergeant said.
Conklin was released after being charged with providing a false statement to police, he said.
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