A Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Maryland was arrested and charged for allegedly filing a false report to police about child sex trafficking in an adult bookstore, according to police.

Ryan Dark White, who goes by Dr. Jon McGreevey, was arrested Friday, according to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. White told police in April he had knowledge about the supposed illegal acts taking place in an adult bookstore in Edgewood, Maryland, but an investigation found his allegation was false.

​”It is shameful that a candidate for public office would make up such a story and use it to further his own political agenda,” Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler said in a statement. “Fearmongering and antagonism caused wasted time and energy by our personnel, whose time would have been better served protecting the citizens of Harford County, instead of investigating lies.”

White, who is running in a crowded Republican primary field, was interviewed by detectives on July 7, according to police. Investigators concluded after the interview that the candidate’s child sex trafficking allegation was false, according to police.

Detectives investigated White’s claim and interviewed the young girl — who is between 10 and 12 — as well as the adult male alleged to have engaged in inappropriate behavior, police said. The candidate claimed to police he was an employee at the adult bookstore in his report, according to the local outlet WBFF

The candidate was taken to the Harford County Detention Center, according to police, and will appear before a district court commissioner.

White’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment.