A Colorado park ranger who claimed he was stabbed while patrolling Staunton State Park fabricated the attack and has been arrested, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday. Investigators identified the ranger as 26-year-old seasonal employee Callum Heskett. On 19 August he phoned 911 alleging that an assailant knifed him near the park’s climbing area, triggering a large-scale search that included ground teams, aircraft and an emergency alert to about 8,600 nearby homes. Several schools were also placed on lockout while authorities looked for the supposed attacker. Inconsistencies in Heskett’s account and physical evidence led detectives to conclude the stabbing was self-inflicted. A warrant finalized Thursday charges him with two felonies—attempting to influence a public servant and tampering with evidence—alongside four misdemeanor counts, including false reporting and reckless endangerment. Heskett remains hospitalized following surgery for his wounds and will be transferred to the Jefferson County Jail upon discharge. The sheriff’s office said the hoax diverted significant public-safety resources and created unnecessary risk for residents and first responders. No other suspects are being sought.