Police: College Student Made Up Claims Of Sexual Assault On Traffic Stop

Washington County, VA – A 21-year-old college student who claimed to have been sexually assaulted during a traffic stop has been arrested after she allegedly admitted she had “fabricated the entire story,” according to detectives.

Dyanie Bermeo, a King University student, claimed she was pulled over at the intersection of Spring Creek Road and Old Jonesboro Road on Sept. 29, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) said in a press release on Oct. 16.

She allegedly later told WCSO detectives that “a law enforcement officer or a person impersonating a law enforcement officer” sexually assaulted her during the traffic stop, according to the sheriff’s office.

The WCSO took Bermeo’s report extremely seriously, and called for the assistance of the Virginia State Police (VSP) and the Abingdon Police Department (APD) in order to conduct “a full-scale investigation,” the department noted.

Police said Bermeo also reported the alleged assault to King University faculty.

The university’s administration responded by distributing a safety bulletin to students in an effort to help them to protect themselves.

But as the investigation continued, Bermeo’s story started to fall apart.

“After a thorough investigation and evidence gathered because of the report, it was determined that this incident lacked validity and appeared to be fabricated,” the WCSO said.

“When confronted with the evidence gathered by Washington County Detectives…Bermeo admitted that she had fabricated the entire story,” according to the sheriff’s office.

The WCSO immediately notified King University about the outcome of the investigation.

Bermeo, a Mint Hill, North Carolina resident, has been charged with misdemeanor giving a false report to a law enforcement officer, according to the WCSO.

The department did not provide any further details regarding the investigation.