Baltimore County police say they have concluded their investigation into an alleged sexual assault on an 11-year old Perry Hall Middle School student after learning the incident never happened.

“Basically, police detectives have concluded the investigation into the allegation based on results that the incident did not occur,” police spokesman Bill Toohey said Friday. “The investigation is closed.”

Toohey said he could not go into detail as to what led to the girl changing her story.

But the incident spawned widespread concern in the community and beefed-up security at the school following the girl’s claim Wednesday to school officials just before classes ended for the day.

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The girl reportedly told authorities she was assaulted by a man who followed her into a rest room. She said she was able to fight off the man — described as a construction employee whose company was working at the school — before escaping. The girl said she immediately notified school officials about the attack.

A man whom police identified as a suspect was questioned. The school sent automated phone messages to parents Wednesday night informing them of the incident. Students also were urged to use the buddy system when walking outside.

In follow-up comments on the case late Thursday, Cpl. Mike Hill, another Baltimore County police spokesman, had told The Examiner the man had not been charged and that as a routine matter, the girl would be interviewed again on Friday “in case there was something else she wanted to say.”

drowley@baltimoreexaminer.com