Tacoma Police debunk sexual assault claim, woman now faces charges
Mar 12, 2025, 6:03 AM | Updated: 6:04 am
Entrance sign for Point Defiance Park in Tacoma. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
As the Tacoma Police Department (TPD) investigated an alleged sexual assault that occurred near the Point Defiance dog park last December, the department failed to find any evidence, believing the woman made up the claims.
On Dec. 11, the woman told officers an unknown man attacked her while she was walking her dog. She alleged the incident occurred around 5 p.m., and that she was attacked from behind. The incident occurred in the parking lot attached to the dog park. According to TPD, she described the suspect as wearing a mask, gloves, and overall dark clothing.
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She told police that she drove herself to the hospital and had a forensic exam.
But, after detectives conducted a comprehensive investigation into the assault, including reviewing witness statements and conducting forensic tests, they found no evidence that the attack ever happened.
“Following a detailed review of all available evidence, the City Prosecutor’s Office determined that the information provided did not align with the findings of the investigation,” TPD wrote in a statement on X. “Multiple resources were deployed, including forensic analysis and witness interviews, to thoroughly examine the reported incident.”
The woman was charged with filing a false police report. Despite the falsified incident, TPD emphasized they take every report seriously and urge victims to come forward.
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“The Tacoma Police Department understands the serious nature of sexual assault and the impact such reports have on our community,” TPD wrote. “It is committed to thoroughly investigating all reports of sexual assault, providing support to survivors, and ensuring public safety.”
Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest and producer of the Seattle Seahawks podcast, The Reset with Gee Scott. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.
