Santa robbery a hoax, 'victim' arrested

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - East Providence Police have arrested a bartender who garnered national headlines after she claimed she was robbed by a man with a gun dressed in a Santa suit.

Christal Johnson, 37, turned herself into East Providence Police on Thursday night.

She was arraigned by a bail commissioner on charges of filing a false police report and released.

Johnson is a bartender at the East Providence Yatcht Club.

She's accused of calling the police on Sunday to report a robbery.

According to police, Johnson claimed she was setting up the bar for Sunday Night Football when a large man with a white beard wearing a Santa hat, Santa jacket and holding a Santa bag walked in.

• Related: Santa Wanted for Armed Robbery

She said the man also had a shotgun.

The story spread across the internet, and generated international buzz for investigators.

"We've got calls from Canada, from New York. It's been on the internet," Sgt. Bruce Atwell said Thursday. "It's big new when Santa's alleged to have robbed a bar!"

According to police, more than $1,500 was taken from the bar.

At this point, Johnson is only charged with filing a false police report.

Police say they did not believe Johnson's story for a single minute.

"We're glad to say Santa can do his job... and not have to worry about the East Providence Police chasing him," Sgt. Atwell joked.