PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A 22-year-old woman has been charged with filing a false report for allegedly making up a story that she had been raped by a group of men on a popular walking path in Maine’s largest city.

Portland police say Maryanne Morin, of Portland, initially told police she was assaulted Monday night along the Back Cove trail by a group of black men. Police Chief James Craig on Tuesday held a news conference appealing for witnesses to come forward.

But police say Morin, who is also black, later changed her story. The Portland Press Herald said she could not be reached for comment.

Craig said false reports create unnecessary anxiety in the community, especially when they target a particular race.

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Information from: Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com


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