Police say woman filed false report
State police were concerned when they continued to receive calls from Amber Noelle Matlick claiming that she was the victim of repeated harassment and attempted burglaries. So, on July 23, 2005, unbeknownst to Matlick, troopers watched her apartment building at 112 Township Drive in South Union Township, hoping to put an end to what was happening to the 22-year-old.
Close to midnight, Matlick allegedly called police to tell them she heard all-terrain vehicles in the woods behind her home, claimed that there were people knocking on her front door and that there was a man standing under her neighbor’s deck, watching her.
But troopers posted outside her home hoping to catch whoever was harassing her saw none of the alleged behavior, said trooper George Mrosko.
On Friday, Mrosko filed charges of unsworn falsification to authorities and false reports to law enforcement authorities, both third-degree misdemeanors.
Police also are seeking $3,807.73 in restitution to cover payment of the hours troopers spent pursuing the allegedly false claims.
“She had us believing that she was legitimately being stalked and harassed,” Mrosko said.
He estimated Matlick called police for help between 10 and 20 times, but she is only charged with the July 2005 call because troopers were at her home doing surveillance at the time.
“If she was legitimately being stalked and harassed, we wanted to catch the people responsible and arrest them,” Mrosko said of why police decided to conduct surveillance.
The calls caused police concern, he said.
“She made frantic calls to the barracks, but we were never able to substantiate any of the things that she alleged,” he said.
Mrosko said it was frustrating to find out that, at least on July 23, that police believe they rushed to Matlick’s home for no reason.
“It takes away resources for people who might really need them,” he said.
Mrosko said Matlick gave police the names of people who could be harassing her.
Matlick later admitted to police that she made up the incident just to have troopers check the area, according to a release.
Since police confronted Matlick about the alleged false call, things have been quiet, Mrosko said.
“As soon as confronted, it never happened again,” he said.