A woman who reported being stabbed Wednesday afternoon in East Bremerton while walking near her residence was arrested Thursday on charges of false reporting and obstructing law enforcement.

The 24 year-old woman, whose bail was initially set at $20,000, was contacted in the 3500 block of Wheaton Way by Bremerton police officers shortly after 1:45 p.m. Wednesday. Bremerton Fire Department medics rendered emergency care and transported the woman to Harrison Medical Center Bremerton. Within an hour of the call, the woman was en route to Harborview Medical Center aboard an Airlift Northwest helicopter.

Bremerton officers assisted Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputies and detectives when it was determined that the reported assault occurred outside Bremerton city limits. The sheriff’s office then assumed primary investigative responsibility.

The victim had provided a brief suspect description: white male, approximately 6’00” tall wearing a black sweater or hooded sweatshirt and khaki pants. The woman said the suspect approached her, asked for directions, then stabbed her with a knife and fled the scene on foot.

A sheriff’s K-9 team initiated a track for the suspect in the 5200 block of State Highway 303 NE. Several police units converged into the area for containment and to investigate possible suspect reports. Sheriff’s detectives worked follow-up contacts to obtain video images from local businesses and conduct interviews.

“With extensive resources committed to this investigation sheriff’s detectives determined that the report of the woman being stabbed was false and that her injury was self inflicted,” according to Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Deputy Scott Wilson.