Fraud and public mischief charges have been laid against a man from Cochrane, Alta. who said he was severely injured by barbed wire that was strung across a mountain biking trail and then appealed for $8,000 in donations.
Stelianos Psaroudakis said he was clotheslined by barbed wire tied between two trees while he was cycling near Bragg Creek, west of Calgary. The 37-year-old shared photos of a big red gash across his neck.
He started an online fundraising campaign to raise money for medical bills and a new bike. He raised close to $900 before taking it down after numerous complaints.
RCMP received multiple tips from people who know Psaroudakis and the public and were able to determine that he did not hurt himself on the biking trail.
“We found out that he had actually been involved in a collision with a barbed wire fence, but he was riding an ATV on private property of a friend nearby and that’s how he got the injuries,” said RCMP Cpl. Curtis Peters.
“It had nothing to do with the trail system or with mountain biking at all.”
Peters said he spoke to Psaroudakis on Friday after a warrant had been issued for his arrest and Psaroudakis said he planned to turn himself in.
Read more at CTV News
