Kevin Spacey apologizes for confusion around `mugging' incident

LONDON (AP) _ Kevin Spacey apologized for confusion arising from his report to police that he'd been mugged. The Oscar-winning actor made, then retracted, the complaint after a weekend encounter in

Monday, April 19th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6


LONDON (AP) _ Kevin Spacey apologized for confusion arising from his report to police that he'd been mugged. The Oscar-winning actor made, then retracted, the complaint after a weekend encounter in a London park that left him dazed and bleeding.

The Daily Mirror newspaper reported that Spacey had been ``brutally mugged'' in a south London park at 4:30 a.m. Saturday.

Spacey told British Broadcasting Corp. radio Monday that the truth was less dramatic. He said he was walking his dog when a young man approached him with ``some sob story about somebody needing to call their mother and could they use my phone.

``It was such a good con, that I actually dialed the number myself and when somebody answered I then finally handed (over) my phone,'' said Spacey, who won Academy Awards for his roles in 1995's ``The Usual Suspects'' and 1999's ``American Beauty.''

``And this kid took off and I was so upset I ran after him.''

Spacey said he had reported the incident to police, but went back a few hours later to clarify his story.

Spacey, 44, said he ``woke up after a couple of hours' sleep and I thought, you know, there is a difference between assault and theft and it just wasn't (right) for me to not come clean about my own level of embarrassment and being humble at the fact that I got taken by the oldest con going.''

The incident took place near the Old Vic Theater, where Spacey is the artistic director.

Asked why he was walking his dog at 4:30 in the morning, Spacey said: ``My doggy had to go!''

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said a man in his 40s, suffering a minor head injury, had gone to a police station early Saturday to report the theft of his mobile phone.

``He later contacted police that day and withdrew the allegation. That is the end of it from our point of view,'' the spokesman said.
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