The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has arrested Steven Lipsey, DOB 11/28/87, 3149 Monica Parkway, Sarasota, for lying about being shot in an attempted robbery last night.

Deputies responded to Lipsey’s home just before midnight and found he had a single gunshot wound to his left hand. Lipsey claimed a man named “Greg” tried to rob him, shot him and ran from the scene. Detectives soon determined that the forensic evidence did not support Lipsey’s statement, and during a further search of the alleged crime scene followed a blood trail to the back porch, where they found a 9mm black semiautomatic handgun on the roof.

Lipsey admitted the gun went off when he tried to unload it and concocted the story to avoid being arrested. He is now charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Giving a False Report to a Law Enforcement Officer and Making a False Official Statement.