Kids Lied About Man Throwing Girl in River, Police Say

Mount Clemens, MI — Investigators have asked the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office to drop felonious assault charges against a man accused of throwing two children in the Clinton River after they admitted they made up the story, police said

The children, a 9-year-old girl and her 14-year-old stepbrother, face charges in juvenile court for filing a false felony report, the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The children claimed to deputies patrolling the area around 11 p.m. on June 22 that Frank Michael Smoger, 48, approached them as they walked along the Clinton River boardwalk and tossed the girl in the river.

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Police found Smoger lying in the grass and arrested him.

In a statement Friday, the sheriff’s office said authorities have made numerous attempts to contact the family to clarify information in the original report, but said girl’s mother has been “uncooperative.”

“The girl lost an earring and she was angry,” officials said. “Her and her 14-year-old stepbrother then fabricated the story about her being thrown into the river.

“Furthermore, when the original report was filed, the girl reported to deputies that she was 13 years old,” officials continued. “In actuality, the girl is 9 years old.”

Smoger remains in jail, where he is incarcerated on charges unrelated to the accident.