Local Woman Claimed Assault, Now Charged

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — A local woman faces charges of her own after she reported being assaulted in Five Points. On October 21, 2012, Columbia Police say a woman walked into the South Region Office on Devine Street to report a sexual assault. According to the victim, she had been out in Five Points with a group of friends the Thursday night prior. Around 3:00 a.m. Friday, she told police she left to go home and that’s when she calims two black males approached her on the 700 block of Harden Street, one of whom she claims hit her. The victim told police the men drug her behind Harper’s Restaurant and further assaulted her. In reports obtained by ABC Columbia News, the victim says one man sat on her shoulders while the other forcibly had sex with her. She also told police they stole money and a camera from her purse before threatening her with a gun and leaving. The victim further gave detailed descriptions of the suspects. Crandall Sims reporting, “But according to police, that entire store was a lie. Instead, here’s what they say really happened that night.” “She left work early Friday morning with another male employee. They went back to his place, where they were together. His girlfriend caught both of them at the other location,” says Columbia Police Chief Randy Scott. That confession came Thursday and 26 year old Heather Atkins was charged with Filing a False Police Report of a Felony Violation. Columbia Police Chief Randy Scott, says this case is disturbing for real sexual assault victims. “It’s too often that people are victimized, this is an underreported crime,” says Chief Scott. Scott also says this case hurts Columbia. “This in itself is something that really breaks the trust and further puts a fear of violence in our community,that is not there,” says Chief Scott. Police say Atkins told them she was too embarassed to tell the truth and instead lied to police and even her own family.