A police officer who claimed she was assaulted while conducting a traffic stop was charged with making false reports after investigators found inaccuracies in her statements.

Support for Melissa Ruch, 41, of the West Penn Township Police Department, came in from departments and elected officials around the commonwealth after she was allegedly assaulted on Sept. 3.Ruch said she had stopped a vehicle along Route 309 when she was assaulted by the driver of the vehicle.Ruch said that she used her stun gun on the man, but he was still able to pick her up and throw her down an embankment.The incident prompted a manhunt including police departments from five counties. Ruch gave police a description of her alleged attacker and the vehicle he was driving.On Sept. 11, Ruch was honored by state lawmakers at the West Penn police station, but declined to make any comment.Police investigated some inconsistencies in the statements Ruch gave them, and determined that she had fabricated the incident. She now faces misdemeanor charges including making a false report to law enforcement.