Stenroos is accused of making up a story of being shot in the chest by a car-burglary suspect next to El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills on Jan. 19.
Stenroos was arrested the following week, on Jan. 27. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck announced in a news conference that investigators had discovered Stenroos had fabricated the story. It was unclear how or if Stenroos had actually been shot.
Officers from the LAPD, LAUSD, CHP and L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. spent hours searching for the non-existent suspect within a 7-square-mile cordoned-off area. Nine area schools were locked down during the intensive search.
City officials pooled money to create a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of the non-existent suspect.
Costs to the city were estimated between $400,000 to $500,000. L.A. City Councilman Dennis Zine wants the city to sue Stenroos to recover costs.
