WBRZ - Baton Rouge

A hotel clerk who claimed he was stabbed with a syringe during an armed robbery now says he lied.

Irvin Cheatham, 39, called Baton Rouge police Sunday night saying he was the victim of a robbery while working at the Days Inn on Varsity Street.

He claimed he was knocked out by a substance in the syringe and that the robber stole a TV from the lobby.

Cheatham later admitted he fabricated the story as a cover.

He told investigators he fell asleep on the job and couldn't explain why the TV disappeared.

Cheatham was issued two misdemeanor summons for criminal mischief and filing a false police report.

The theft of the television is still under investigation.