Bucks Man Expected to Plead Guilty to Sending Police on Wild Goose Chase During Manhunt
By Brad Segall
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- A Bucks County man accused of filing a false police report late last year while authorities were searching for a suspected mass murderer in Montgomery County is expected to plead guilty to the charges.
Luke Sanderlin waived his preliminary hearing and is expected to plead guilty to misdemeanor charges that include filing a false report and reckless endangerment. Prosecutors say they will then dismiss the charge of risking a catastrophe.
The 34-year-old Doylestown man called police to say he believed Bradley Stone tried to carjack him.
"We wanted to make sure that he took criminal responsibility for his actions," says county prosecutor Matt Weintraub. "This was much more than a public inconvenience -- the man preyed essentially upon the public's fear."
Because of Sanderlin's report, law enforcement resources were moved to Bucks County as the search for Stone intensified, but authorities say the story was hoax.
As for a motive, Weintraub says we may get that when Sanderlin enters his plea. For now, he remains behind bars in lieu of $250,000 bail.
