Police: Bennington man arrested after falsely claiming he was robbed

A Bennington man who called police to report a robbery has now been arrested after police said he made the whole story up.

At about 4 a.m. on July 9, Vermont State Police responded to a report of a theft at the Ladd Brook Inn in Pownal for a report of a robbery. Pasquale J. Passarette, 58, told police someone stole his money in the parking lot at about 3 a.m. However, an investigation revealed that Passarette concocted the story to divert troopers’ attention. Police learned that he had attempted to purchase crack cocaine.

Passarette turned himself in to the Bennington Police Department Wednesday on an arrest warrant. He was charged with possession of cocaine and false information to a police officer.