The woman who reported being raped by five black men on back Cove made up the entire story, police now say.

Portland Police Chief James Craig, who had held a 3 p.m. news conference urging witnesses to come forward, said at 4 p.m. that the woman had made up the report after a fight with her partner. 

Craig said he plans to have the woman charged with filing a false report and plans to push for the maximum penalty.

12 p.m.

Portland police are investigating a sexual assault that occurred on Baxter Boulevard Monday night and involved a group of men attacking a lone woman.

Police say the woman was walking on the boulevard between Hannaford’s and Vannah Avenue at 9:30 p.m. when five men started following her on the path. The men made lewd comments and then forced her to the ground just off the jogging path, police said.

She was held down and assaulted, police said. An unknown motorist yelled and the suspects ran, the woman said.

The attackers are described as black men in their 20s. One of them was overweight, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans with one pant leg rolled up.

Anyone with information is asked to call Portland police at 874-8533.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.