New Jersey authorities said a code enforcement officer allegedly lied about a carjacking when his vehicle was stolen during a drug deal gone bad.

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Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said David McCord, 60, an East Orange code enforcement officer, told police he had been carjacked while driving Friday in East Orange, The (Newark) Star-Ledger reported Tuesday.

However, investigators determined during an interview with McCord Monday that his car was actually stolen by a drug dealer in Newark while McCord was attempting to purchase narcotics, Murray said.

McCord was charged with falsely reporting a victim of a carjacking and wandering with intent to purchase narcotics. He was had several outstanding warrants from Newark and Maplewood courts, authorities said.