Police: Scotts Valley woman's lottery story a lie

Sunday, March 25, 2007 posted 05:34 AM EDT

A woman who claimed a $5,000 winning lottery ticket was stolen out of her hand outside Safeway on Wednesday made up the story, Scotts Valley police said Friday.

Officer David Ball reported his investigation found no theft occurred.

Adriana Bartch, 35, of Scotts Valley, who claimed the theft, was arrested for filing a false police report, which is a misdemeanor.

She was cited on a promise to appear in court. The penalty for a misdemeanor is up to a year in County Jail, a fine or both.

She had claimed to win $5,000 with a "Cherry Tripler" scratcher and told police a man had snatched it away and left on a bicycle. In her initial report to police, she said she had purchased several lottery tickets, scratched them off, yelled out "I won" and held the ticket above her head before it was grabbed by a man with sandy blond hair on a bicycle.

Lottery officials had questioned the amount of the prize, saying the winnings for that game are either $1,000 or $9,000.

As late as 7 p.m. Thursday, Bartch said she had a winning ticket.

The case took another twist that night.

"We received a call before 7 p.m., a 911 call from a pay phone," said Police Lt. John Wilson said. "The caller said something to the effect that 'my boyfriend's the one that stole the scratcher. We know where the victim works and we're going to come and get her.'"

The voice on the 911 call sounded like the voice of woman who had claimed the theft, Wilson said, so police questioned her.

"It was confirmed she did make that call," Wilson said. "She advised us she made the whole thing up"

The incident left police with a lot of questions.

"I have no idea why she did what she did," Wilson said. "It would be strange if it were true"

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