WOODLAND HILLS—Authorities have arrested LAUSD School police officer Jeffrey Stenroos, who reported being shot in the chest by a suspect on Wednesday, January 19, near El Camino Real High School. Stenroos was taken into custody on Thursday, January 27, on suspicion of filing a false police report.

The alleged incident began shortly after 8 a.m. on January 19 when Officer Jeffrey Stenroos was patrolling El Camino Real High School in a black and white marked vehicle.  He claimed he was flagged down by an individual who informed him that he spotted a Caucasian male who was peering into parked cars behind the school.  At around 11:30 a.m., Officer Stenroos said he spotted a man matching the description of the suspect on the 5500 block ofManton Avenue.

The Los Angeles Police Department blog stated the following immediately after the incident, “Officer Stenroos, believing that the male might be a burglary suspect, stopped his police car and got out to investigate.  The suspect suddenly fired a handgun at Officer Stenroos, striking him once in the chest.”  The bullet forced the officer to the ground, but he was wearing a ballistic vest that prevented the bullet from piercing his body.

When asked how vital it was that Officer Stenroos was wearing the ballistic vest at the time of the shooting Officer Karen Rayner of the LAPD Media Relations Section stated to Canyon News, “I can tell you the ballistic vest absolutely saved the officer’s life.  I was at the press conference when the head trauma doctor explained how the bullet hit just below the left nipple and would have gone right through the heart, lungs, and many vital blood vessel systems. The doctor was convinced the vest saved his life.”

Michael Brodey, a good Samaritan who was driving by, spotted Officer Stenroos and was able to use the police radio to call for help.  Brodey, who was a member the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, provided assistance to the wounded officer until responders arrived. He was treated at NorthridgeHospital Medical Center for a bruised chest and injuries he sustained to his head after falling.

The suspect in the shooting was described as a male Caucasian, in his mid-to-late 40s with long grayish hair pulled into a pony-tail. He was allegedly 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, 160-170 pounds, with a thin build and was last seen wearing a dark colored jacket, possibly a bomber jacket or hooded sweatshirt and denim jeans.

Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine, on Friday, January 21, called for a $75,000 reward leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the suspect in the shooting, which was unanimously passed by the council.  TheLos Angeles Police Association, the Police Protective League, the Los Angeles Fire and Police Association all donated $5,000 each bringing the total reward to $90,000.  David Gold, the founder of the 99 Cents Only stores contributed $9,999.99 to the reward and Councilman Zine added the extra penny bringing the reward to $100,000.

More than nine schools in the area were placed on lockdown as hundreds of officers from five different agencies searched for the alleged suspect in the shooting.

The case took a surprising turn when LAPD Chief Charlie Beck held a press conference on Thursday, January 27, about the case. “The current state of the investigation refutes Stenroos’s initial account of the incident and we are now certain there is no outstanding suspect in this shooting,” said Beck. “We go where our investigations take us and if it’s to a suspect that is named in the crime or to a law enforcement officer of another agency.” Police are not confirming whether or not Officer Stenroos shot himself as they are still investigating the case.

Brodey, the good Samaritan who saved Stenroos’s life, was schocked to find out the incident was a hoax. Authorities questioned Brodey who found Stenroos after he was lying on the ground wounded.

Paul M. Weber, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, released the following statement in reaction to discovering that LAUSD School police officer Jeffrey Stenroos had made up the entire story about being shot: “The Law Enforcement community is disgusted upon learning that Mr. Stenroos filed a false police report and apparently may have shot himself.  His lies set in motion the largest search for a suspect in recent history and inconvenienced thousands of people’s hours. While Mr. Stenroos is a disgrace to the badge, his individual and dangerous actions should not reflect on the hard working men and women in law enforcement. On behalf of all in law enforcement, we want to apologize to the public that intentionally betray all of our trust. If these allegations are proven true, Mr. Stenroos is now where he belongs, behind bars.”