NEWARK -- A 35-year-old city resident was arrested on Saturday after he shot himself in the leg and then fabricated a story to cover it up, police said.

Jose R. Clime, 35, of Newark. (Newark Police Department)

Jose R. Clime was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and falsifying a police report following the bizarre incident, Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose announced in a statement.

Newark police officers responded around 6:47 a.m. to University Hospital in Newark after they got a call about a victim with a gunshot wound, Ambrose said.

Newark police Capt. Derek Glenn said Clime told investigators he was attacked by two men who exited a vehicle on Ridge Street near Abington Avenue. Clime claimed he was grabbed from behind by one of the men and during the course of a struggle, heard a loud pop. Clime told police he later discovered that he was shot in the leg and went to the hospital for treatment, Glenn said.

But investigators determined Clime shot himself, Ambrose said. Officers then located a loaded .22 caliber handgun from the 400 block of Clifton Avenue, where the shooting happened, Ambrose said.

Clime was treated and released from the hospital.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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