'Empire' actor goes from victim to accused felon in 3 weeks

Police say "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett turned himself in early today to face accusations that he filed a false police report when he told authorities he was attacked in Chicago by two men who hurled racist and anti-gay slurs and looped a rope around his neck.

Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says Smollett turned himself in at central booking and was arrested. Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson was scheduled to hold a morning news conference, and Smollett was expected to appear in court later today. Police haven't described a motive.

The whispers about Smollett's account started with reports that he hadn’t fully cooperated with police after telling authorities he was attacked. Then detectives in a city bristling with surveillance cameras couldn’t find video of the beating. Later, two brothers were taken into custody for questioning but were released after two days, with police saying they were no longer suspects.

Following three weeks of mounting suspicions, Smollett was charged yesterday with felony disorder conduct, a charge that could bring up to three years in prison and force the actor, who is black and gay, to pay for the cost of the investigation into his report of a Jan. 29 beating.