This is exactly what the reporter wanted to do. Confuse the confused reader. Make it so the cop was at fault for being there and the criminal is just a nice guy caught at a bad time. The liberal newspapers are hiring reporters to lie writing the stories in order to sell more papers. Look for the bottom line.
The only confusion here is how is it possible someone is paying him to be a reporter.
I don't think he was attempting to lie here. I just think he is incompetent.