After launching a widespread manhunt for a person accused of stabbing a Colorado Parks and Wildlife ranger, officials said Thursday the ranger who claimed to be attacked in Staunton State Park this week was never in any danger.
Callum Heskett, 26, was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges Thursday for the “elaborate hoax” that sent Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies and other first responders out looking for the attacker, put thousands of residents on alert and placed several schools on a lockdown, the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities say Heskett stabbed himself and was airlifted to a hospital after reporting the attack.
Heskett, a seasonal ranger at the park, radioed for help at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, claiming he had been attacked and stabbed, the sheriff’s office said. He described the assailant to the deputies and told them his attacker ran away.
His’s report launched Colorado State Patrol’s aviation teams to start looking for the attacker. The county’s SWAT and drone teams were activated. The county’s alert system warned 8,600 residents of potential danger.
As Heskett was en route to the hospital, teams searched for his alleged attacker for several hours, the sheriff’s office said. Two people of interest were detained and interviewed before investigators determined they weren’t involved.
But then inconsistencies in Heskett’s statements started to emerge, the sheriff’s office said. “Conflicting and questionable evidence” had investigators starting to doubt the validity of Heskett’s allegations.
“After investigators conducted their first interview with Heskett, it became even more clear that his story was flawed and erroneous,” the sheriff’s office said Thursday.
Heskett is in the hospital receiving care, but upon his release, will be transferred to the Jefferson County jail. He faces charges for attempting to influence a public servant, tampering with evidence, false reporting to authorities, reckless endangerment, obstructing government operations and 2nd-degree official misconduct.
His bond is set at $10,000, the sheriff’s office said.
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