Sheriff: Girl lied about being thrown into Clinton River

A 9-year-old girl lied about being thrown into the Clinton River June 22, the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.

Detectives interviewed an independent witness and learned that the girl (and the step-brother) lied to deputies who initially investigated the incident.

The girl, who originally told police she was 13, told the police she was walking with her brother on the boardwalk when a man grabbed her and threw her into the river in Mt. Clemens.

Since the initial report, the Sheriff's Office said it made numerous attempts to contact the family to clarify information in the original report.  The mother (of the girl) has been uncooperative with the Sheriff's Office. 

On June 30th, the family was re-interviewed and it was revealed that the incident did not occur as it was reported. 

According to new information, the girl was swimming in the river, when the suspect, Frank Smoger, fell into the river accidently hitting the girl. 

In a release from the sheriff's office, "The girl lost an earring and she was angry.  She and her 14 year-old step-brother then fabricated the story about her being thrown into the river.  Furthermore, when the original report was filed, the girl reported to deputies that she was 13 years-old.  In actuality the girl is 9 years-old."

The Macomb County Sheriff's Office has provided the new information to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office.  The Sheriff's Office will seek that the felonious assault charges (against Frank Smoger) be dismissed.

The sheriff's office said Smoger is currently incarcerated for other charges unrelated to the incident.