Police: Hatfield Borough Armed Robbery a Lie, Man Charged

, was a lie, police said, and they have charged a man for the false police report.

William D. Graef III, 22, of the 2000 block of Oak Road, Hatfield, was charged with misdemeanor unsworn falsification to authorities and misdemeanor false reports to law enforcement authorities, police said.

Graef III was arraigned by District Judge Kenneth Deatelhauser, who set bail at $10,000 unsecured, police said. Graef III is free on bail.

A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 6 at 9:30 a.m. before Deatelhauser.

On Jan. 25, during the investigation of the reported armed robbery, Hatfield Township Police detectives determined the armed robbery never occurred and it was a false report to law enforcement, police said.

This is Graef III's first criminal offense in Montgomery County, according to court records.

Hatfield Township Police received a report of the robbery on the night of January 23, 2013.

Following the report, police were searching for a man in his 30s who reportedly robbed a man at gunpoint of cash and property under a bridge in Centennial Park in Hatfield Borough.

Graef allegedly told police the suspect was a man in his 30s, whose face was covered by a black bandana, 6 feet 1 inch to 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 150 to 200 pounds, wearing blue jeans, tan work boots, and a black-hooded sweatshirt, police said.

Graef III told police he was walking in the park, when he was grabbed from behind, police said.

Graef III told police the suspect displayed a handgun and forced him under a bridge in the park, where he was robbed of cash and property, police said.

Police reported the suspect fled on foot and was not located by responding officers. A Montgomery Township Police K9 unit assisted at the scene of the reported robbery.

This article will be updated with more details.