A woman who claimed she was kidnapped and robbed is now facing charges.
Nanaimo RCMP responded to the Royal Motel on Terminal Avenue around 8 a.m. Tuesday when a woman called 911 claiming she was forced into a car near the 7-Eleven on Townsite Road by two men, who took her to an apartment on Holly Avenue where she was held against her will. The victim was also allegedly threatened with bear spray and robbed of money before she was released and called police.
"The investigation took members to the Royal Motel where they located four other individuals, all involved in local drug activities, and search warrants are currently being conducted," said Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. "They're looking for cellphones and weapons to corroborate the robbery story."
Police ultimately took five men and one woman into custody at the Royal Motel, which included the two men accused of abducting the female victim, and police were considering charges of forcible confinement, robbery and uttering threats, before further investigation into the supposed victim's story.
"The allegations of forcible confinement and threats and the use of bear spray were totally fabricated," O'Brien said. "Because of the fact that her statements led to six people being arrested and detained for a good part of the day and several thousand dollars being spent in overtime for members to investigate the file, they feel that charges of public mischief are warranted in this case."