Iowa City man alleges assault, gay slurs

Police: Man admits hate-crime claim was false | Iowa City Press Citizen | press-citizen.com

Police: Man admits hate-crime claim was false
Says he was actually just drunk

An Iowa City man who claimed he was the victim of a hate crime has now admitted he was not actually assaulted but was actually just drunk.

On June 11, 30-year-old Ryan G. Watson reported to police he had been assaulted in Iowa City. Watson told police he was walking in the alley between the 100 blocks of E. College and Burlington streets when he was confronted by a black man. Police said Watson reported he was punched in the face by the man and knocked back against a wall.

Police said Watson had abrasions on his face, knee and ankle. He declined to be transported to the hospital. According to criminal complaints, Watson led people to believe he had been “horribly assaulted,” and required surgery and hospitalization.

Watson also alleged the assault was a hate crime, police said.

After the alleged assault, Iowa City Area CrimeStoppers offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of what turned out to be a fictitious suspect.

Police investigated Watson’s allegations, but the validity of his claims was questionable, investigators said. It eventually became clear the assault never happened and Watson admitted he lied to officers.

Police said Watson was simply intoxicated, fell down in the alley and hurt himself.

He has been charged with making a false report to police, a simple misdemeanor.

Watson, a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Iowa in the department of cinema and comparative literature, said in an email that the situation was “more complicated” than it appears.

“I look forward to resolving it in court,” he said.