For the first time ever, someone who filed a false police report that led to an expensive, fruitless investigation was ordered to reimburse the Riverside Police Department for a large portion of the overtime expense incurred pursuing the case.
On March 7, 49-year-old Mary Ann Malik made her final payment to Riverside police, fulfilling a court order to pay the department $1,800. Malik was fined for costs associated with overtime used to investigate her November 2011 claim that she had been raped in an alley behind an apartment building in downtown Riverside.
In response to Malik’s claim, police beefed up night-shift staffing, conducted extra patrols of the area and conducted an intensive investigation. A week later, Malik recanted her claim.
In August 2012, she was convicted of felony disorderly conduct. A judge sentenced her to 18 months’ probation. Riverside police at that time asked for the department to be reimbursed for $2,200. The judge granted Riverside $1,800.
“The department has received reimbursements in the past for damage to property and equipment,” said Police Chief Thomas Weitzel in a press release. “However, no judge has ordered that the department be reimbursed for actual overtime costs associated with an investigation.”
