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Man stabbed by anti-fascist because of his ‘neo-Nazi’ haircut Man who claimed he was stabbed by anti-fascist because of his ‘neo-Nazi’ haircut arrested for filing false report
(about 2 months later)
A man was attacked with a knife after being mistaken for a neo-Nazi because of his hair style, his friends say. A man who claimed he was attacked with a knife after being mistaken for a neo-Nazi because of his hair style has been arrested for filing a false report to police.
Joshua Witt, 26, was stepping out of his car outside a restaurant to buy a milkshake when the assailant lunged at him and swung the blade towards his head. Joshua Witt, 26, said he was stepping out of his car to buy a milkshake when an assailant lunged at him and swung a blade towards his head.
He held up his hands to defend himself in the attack in Sheridan, Colorado amid the frenzy and remembers the man saying: “Are you a neo-Nazi?” He told police he had suffered an injury to his hands as he sought to defend himself in the alleged attack in Sheridan, Colorado, during which his purported assailant supposedly asked him: “Are you a neo-Nazi?”
Mr Witt luckily ended up only with minor injuries, suffering a deep cut below his left thumb which needed three stitches after the attack that left his clothes splattered with blood. Describing the incident in a Facebook post he claimed he didn't understand why he was targeted but said that his friends had suggested his hairstyle, which is long on top and closely cropped at the sides, was to blame for the mix-up. Neo-Nazis often fully shave their heads.
He didn't understand why he was targeted because he has no tattoos linking him to ultra-right wing groups and he is not aware of anything on his car linking him to fascism. He added on Facebook: “I just don't understand this world anymore lol people are crazy.” He also posted a picture of his injured hand.
But his friends pointed out that his hairstyle, which is long on top and closely cropped at the sides, was to blame for the mix-up. Neo-Nazis often fully shave their heads. Mr Witt said he had reported the crime to the police but that he believed his attacker was still at large.
It came amid a wave of backlash against fascists after a march by ultra-right wing groups in Charlottesville triggered clashes after white supremacists attacked counter-protestors. But in a surprising twist, Mr Witt was himself arrested a few days after reporting the alleged offence.
Mr Witt posted a photo of his injured hand after the attack last Sunday on his Facebook page and wrote: “Sooooooo apparently I look like a neo-nazi and got stabbed for it. As the dude was swinging a small pocket knife over my car door. Sheridan police chief Mark Campbell said in a statement that officers had become "suspicious" of Witt's account, not least because video surveillance in the area did not show anyone running from the scene of the supposed attack. 
"Luckily I put my hands up to stop it so he only stabbed my hand. Then he took off running and I was just sitting there in shock like what the heck dude.” What was more, CCTV footage from a nearby sporting goods shop showed Mr Witt purchasing a small knife in the minutes before he claimed the assault had taken place.
He added: “Please keep in mind there was no conversation between me and this dude. I was literally just getting out of my car. All I hear is, ‘Are you one of them neo-Nazis?” Chief Campbell said his officers had re-interviewed Mr Witt on 24 August. 
One friend, Briana Celine Rosario, replied: “God was by your side. You are very lucky. That's a crazy story.” "Mr Witt subsequently admitted to accidentally cutting himself with the knife," he said, "and admitted making up the story about being attacked."
Mr Witts said initially he had no idea why he was targeted – but his friends explained. “They say it’s my haircut,” he told The New York Post. And he is now thinking of changing it. Witt faces a charge of false reporting to authorities and could be fined up to $2,650 and sentenced to a maximum one year in jail if convicted.
He added on Facebook: “I just don't understand this world anymore lol people are crazy.” Update. This article has been amended in light of Mr Witt's arrest by the police following an investigation of his original allegations. We are glad to bring our report up to date. 14/10/17
Mr Witts said he had reported the crime to the police but believes his attacker is still at large.