03:56 PM PST on Wednesday, February 9, 2005

By TERESA BELL and ANTONIA GIEDWOYN, kgw.com Staff

FOREST GROVE, Ore. – A Forest Grove pastor stabbed himself but lied to investigators -- claiming his wounds were actually from an attack during an attempted robbery, police said Tuesday.

KGW

Jerry Mettee talks about the stabbing in his church in Forest Grove.

During a news conference on Wednesday, Jerry Mettee, 45, issued a public apology, saying he's not sure what made him fabricate the story, but he mentioned a "dark time" in his life and alluded to a history of lies.

"Something that evening drove me to hurt myself...no healthy person takes a knife to themself. It's my desire to become a healthy person again...I have hope. I believe this will force me to acknowledge a pattern of behavior...falsehood," Mettee said.

About a week ago, Mettee told police that he was attacked and stabbed by two men who were trying to rob him inside the Wapato Valley Church, where he works as an associate pastor.

He showed officers stab wounds that he claimed he suffered in the Feb. 1 attack and a forensic artist created two composite sketches of his alleged attackers. Officers also conducted an extensive search with K-9 units around the church at 2003 21st Avenue, finding no signs of the suspects.

Mettee shared an elaborate story with police and KGW-TV. He claimed he was alone in an upstairs office in the church when he heard the front doors open. He said he went downstairs where he was confronted by two men who asked for money. When he told them he didn’t have any money, he said the two men became hostile and told him churches are supposed to help people.

He said the men turned around to leave and then one of them suddenly attacked him with a knife. He was treated for minor stab wounds.

Capt. Aaron R. Ashbaugh, with the Forest Grove Police Dept., said investigators don't know why Mettee made up the detailed story.

He said Mettee finally told investigators the truth Tuesday morning.

"He confirmed that there had been no attempted robbery, and that his wounds were self-inflicted,” Ashbaugh said.

Mettee was arrested Tuesday and charged with initiating a false report, a class C misdemeanor, which carries potential maximum sentence of 30 days in jail and a $1,250.00 fine.