SHELBY COUNTY, Ohio --
A Port Jefferson police officer is under investigation for filing a false report early this morning.
According to Shelby County Sheriff Dean Kimpel, the part-time officer, 30-year-old Michael Blankenship, made up a story about exchanging gunfire with a suspect and crashing his cruiser during a chase.
"His story had a lot of inconsistencies," said Sheriff Kimpel. "There were no weapons pointed at him and no one fired at him."
The sheriff said Blankenship's entire story of exchanging gunfire with a man and chasing him was a lie. However, Blankenship did side-swipe a guardrail which resulted in minor damage to the police cruiser.
Kimpel said Blankenship crashed his cruiser just west of Port Jefferson on State Route 47 shortly before 1 a.m.
He was treated and released from Miami Valley Hospital.
Sheriff Kimpel said Blankenship was suffering from personal problems.
"We do know that he's going through some domestic issues. His wife just recently left him," said Sheriff Kimpel.
Kimpel said since Blankenship filed a false report the case will be presented to a prosecutor.
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