No Sexual Assault Happened; Woman Now Under Scrutiny, Police Say

LAKEVILLE, MN— Police concluded that a reported sexual assault never happened in a park in Lakeville after the department investigated for a month, the Pioneer Press reported.

"We have nothing to support what we were told that day," Lakeville police Lt. Bill Gerl said Friday.

Police will forward the case to the Dakota County attorney’s office to review potential charges against the woman, whom Gerl said has stopped speaking with investigators.

The woman initially told police that a man lured her into a secluded area of East Lake Community Park, saying somebody had fallen, police said.

The woman described the attacker as as wearing a black stocking cap, a black COVID-19 style face mask, sunglasses, a black jacket and black gloves, officials said.

The woman was taken to Ridges Hospital following the alleged incident, officials said.

"After an exhaustive investigation, it has been determined there is no threat to the community in the East Lake Park area at this time," the Lakeville Police Department said in a Facebook post.

"We would also like to take the opportunity to acknowledge legitimate victims of assault. LPD put in hundreds of hours investigating the case, including a neighborhood canvass, an extensive search of the park, following up on numerous tips, and executing several search warrants. The lengths Lakeville Police took to investigate the reported crime should give confidence to any victims that we always hear their voices, and we will always investigate the reported crime to the fullest."

The post also reminded community members of safety precautions.

According to research conducted by NSVRC, between 2-10 percent of reported sexual assaults are false, but 63 percent of sexual assaults are never reported to police.

You can read the full story at the Pioneer Press.

Patch has reached out to the Lakeville Police Department for additional information.