LA school officer charged in alleged hoax shooting

Patricia Nazario/KPCC

El Camino High School was on campus-wide lockdown twice in two weeks. Once was because a student brought a gun to school. L.A. police say the first time around, L.A. public schools officer Jeff Strenroos lied about taking a shot to the chest.

A Los Angeles school police officer has been charged with felonies stemming from an alleged shooting hoax that sent authorities on a huge manhunt in January.

Prosecutors said Thursday that 30-year-old Jeff Stenroos is charged with perjury, filing a false insurance claim, preparing a false police report and preparing false evidence.

He is also charged with a misdemeanor of falsely reporting an emergency.

Authorities claim Stenroos faked being shot in his protective vest by a car burglary suspect at El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills. Hundreds of law enforcement officers responded and a huge swath of the San Fernando Valley was shut down during the manhunt.

Arraignment is scheduled for March 23. Stenroos has not responded to messages seeking comment since the incident.

© 2011 The Associated Press.