INQUIRER: A Philadelphia police sergeant who said he was shot last month by an unidentified black man in the city’s Overbrook section actually fabricated the entire story and shot himself, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said this morning. Sgt. Robert Ralston, a 21-year veteran of the department, admitted to homicide detectives early this morning that his previously reported story was false. Ramsey called the incident, “a terrible and embarrassing chapter in our history.” MORE
ASSOCIATED PRESS: A white Philadelphia police sergeant made up a story about being shot by a black man while on patrol last month and actually intentionally shot himself, possibly to get attention or a transfer, the city’s police commissioner said Tuesday. Sgt. Robert Ralston, 46, confessed to making up the story and will have to pay the costs of the massive manhunt that followed, Commissioner Charles Ramsey said. Ralston has been suspended with intent to dismiss, but will not face criminal charges because granting immunity was the only way to obtain his confession, Ramsey said at a news conference. Ramsey said the case was especially troubling because Ralston identified his alleged attacker as black, apparently because the area where the shooting took place is predominantly African-American. MORE