Chalfont Police officer Jon Cousin is out of jail. He was released late Thursday night after posting 10 percent of his $150,000 bail, according to court documents.
Cousin checked himself into a mental health facility immediately after leaving jail, according to the District Attorney's office.
The 3-year veteran of the force is accused of lying about being shot during a Bucks County traffic stop on Monday.
He originally told police he was shot in the parking lot of the Lenape Valley Swim Club after pulling over a maroon Oldsmobile Cutlass with two men and one woman inside. He claimed one of the passengers in the car fired a shot at him.
It was originally reported that his bulletproof vest saved his life.
After a manhunt for the suspects and extensive investigation, police say it was all a lie.
"We're here tonight to inform you the shooting was a hoax," said Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler at a Tuesday night press conference.
Heckler said investigators were suspicious when they found no gravel disturbance where the so-called suspects' vehicle would have driven away from the scene. They also say they only found casings from Cousin's police gun at the scene and no other casings, despite Cousin's claim that the suspect fired at him.
Investigators say the way the bullet struck the vest indicated that it was shot at close range and that Cousin should have therefore suffered bruises. Finally, investigators say the slug embedded into Officer Cousin's vest came from a .380 pistol, the type of gun that Cousin legally purchased two years to the date of this shooting.
Cousin is charged with making a false report, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, and possessing an instrument of crime.
