One suspect stabbed himself and allegedly reported he was hurt during a robbery to avoid telling his wife he used money to buy crack cocaine, a sheriff’s deputy reported last week.
 
Suspect Patrick Steven Crouch, 40, of Mt. Tabor Road, was charged Saturday with making a false report to an officer, Cpl. Barry Poole reported.
 
Two sergeants and two deputies responded to Crouch’s home about 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13, for a report of Crouch suffering a stab wound to the stomach, Poole reported. They found him bleeding from the wound.
 
Crouch told deputies he drove on Butler Drive when he noticed his van waving. He thought the van had a flat tire so he stopped to change the tire but didn’t have the right equipment so he walked to a convenience store to use a pay phone. While walking back, Crouch told deputies a man approached and asked if he needed help.
 
“Crouch then said that while he was attempting to change the tire, the white male pulled out a knife, stabbed him and took all of his cash,” Poole reported.
 
Emergency Medical Services paramedics treated Crouch and transported him to Middle Tennessee Medical Center.
 
As Poole examined Crouch’s van, he noticed evidence did not support the information given by Crouch. Cpl. Scot Appleton and Deputy A.J. Ross could not locate a crime scene.
 
Sgt. Todd Hammond and Poole interviewed Crouch at the medical center where he told them he cashed his paycheck and later purchased crack cocaine.
 
“He smoked the cocaine and went to Crusader to make a payment on his son’s Xbox 360 and then to the grocery store,” Poole reported. “After buying groceries, he went to the Wal-Mart on Rutherford Boulevard to pick up his son’s glasses. He then returned to the Bridge Avenue area and purchased more crack cocaine.”
 
Crouch then drove around “trying to think of a lie to tell Mrs. Crouch about where the money had gone,” Poole reported. He decided to tell her someone robbed him. On his way home, he stopped and “stabbed himself in the stomach.”

Poole charged Crouch with filing the false report. Crouch was booked into Rutherford County Adult Detention Center where he posted a $1,000 bond. A hearing is scheduled March 28 in General Sessions Court.