The investigation is over.

Black student security officer Deantrious R. Mitchell, a 20-year-old sophomore in computer science from Waterloo, was arrested at 1:35 p.m. Monday by Iowa State Department of Public Safety officials for filing a fake assault report, a serious misdemeanor.

On the morning of Oct. 18 Mitchell reported to DPS authorities that he had been assaulted on Clyde Williams Field by a group of eight white individuals. A cutting instrument was reportedly used. He reported to DPS that in more than one instance the word “nigger” was used.

DPS Director Loras Jaeger said the state medical examiner’s office concluded after reviewing photos and other evidence that Mitchell’s injuries were self-inflicted.

“We kept coming back to the injuries as we moved forward with this case,” he said. “The injuries appeared to be self-inflicted.”

The charge, which carries a maximum penalty of a fine up to $1,000 and imprisonment for up to one year, was filed by Story County Attorney’s Office officials.

Mitchell has confessed to filing a false report.

John Tinker, DPS investigative services officer, said only that “personal problems” were Mitchell’s motive for falsifying the report.

Mitchell was at the DPS office in the Armory Monday at 4 p.m. for fingerprinting, photographing and filling out forms. He was released into the custody of his mother about 4:30. Bond was set at $650.

ISU President Martin Jischke said the university will help Mitchell with counseling. He urged the university community to have compassion for Mitchell.

“For me this is an extremely sad circumstance. My first concern is for Mr. Mitchell,” he said. “I hope people will react with understanding and compassion for Mr. Mitchell and all those who are affected by this incident.”

Kyle Pierce, former Black Student Alliance president, said, “Frankly, I’m very appalled. If he did lie, I’m appalled that he would do something like this.”

Government of the Student Body President Adam Gold said he feels Mitchell took advantage of students. There was a $3,200 reward for information leading to arrests in the case.

“We tried to unify against an episode that was horrific and then we were duped. This is a huge set-back to all of our goals,” he said. “Now we have to regroup and begin communicating with each other and make sure nothing like this happens again.”

Pierce said members of the ISU community should not blame any one group. “One student made a poor choice. Let’s maybe use this to move forward.”

The FBI and Iowa’s Department of Criminal Investigation assisted in the investigation. Mitchell never received a lie detector test.

On Aug. 6, 1993, when Mitchell lived in Waterloo, he reported to police that he was beaten and cut and called a “nigger” by a similar number of white suspects. No suspects or witnesses were ever found in that case.

Jaeger said ISU officials were aware of the incident and the similarities, but, he said, “It played a very minor part in this investigation. It’s a sad situation. It’s never enjoyable working a criminal case that never occurred.”

The investigation, he said, was “very meticulous” and “thorough.” “I am very saddened by the conclusion.”

In an earlier interview with the Daily, Mitchell bragged about beating up three of the fictional assailants.

He said he did not want people to know that he knew tae kwon do and other martial arts so people would not challenge him.

Mitchell said he had been challenged to fight quite often in high school and added that it was fun to fight. Getting into fights, he said, was “not unordinary.” He said he didn’t care if his assailants were caught.

Mitchell said he felt like he was being used by the university and various organizations.