Former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland is not happy with a Thursday TMZ report claiming he is cooling his heels in jail on a $95,000 bond. He even said so in a video he posted on Facebook shortly after the story was published.
Rather than being in jail, Weiland said, "I’ve actually been touring, writing and recording my new album."
The gossip outlet claimed that Weiland had been in jail since July after he was arrested for shoplifting razors, and said that while police were searching him at that time, they found meth.
Part of the story is somewhat true, police said. A man claiming to be Weiland was arrested July 26 on suspicion of shoplifting and officers did allegedly find a "controlled substance" on his person, they said. His bail was set at $20,000.
But wait, it gets stranger: According to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Inmate Information Center ***site, there was a current inmate with the same name and birth date as Weiland.
Turns out the inmate, identified as Jason Michael Hurley, 44, was able to trick police and jail staff into thinking he was the famous rocker, police said late Thursday night.
The hoax went on for about four weeks before it was discovered Thursday, thanks to the real Weiland’s video.
The now properly identified inmate will most likely face charges of giving ***** information to officers, police said.
Just how Hurley was able to trick police and jail staff is unclear, but he did have an upcoming court appearance Tuesday, according to records.
The real Weiland is threatening TMZ with legal action for what he called "a lie."
Attempts to reach TMZ for comment were unsuccessful.
Read more at ONTD: Oh No They Didn't! – Rocker Scott Weiland never arrested; authorities tricked by impostor