DUBOIS – A Brockway man stands accused of allegedly reporting a theft that never happened.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed with District Judge Patrick Ford’s office June 29, Devin Michael Keith, 28, 45 Keith Ln., Brockway, is charged by the Sandy Township police with filing false reports.
According to the affidavit, police were called to the parking lot of the DuBois Mall for a stolen vehicle. The reports said the stolen vehicle was heading to the mud pits behind Lowe’s.
The caller said he was a friend of the victim who was following behind the stolen Jeep. However, when officers arrived, there was no one around.
The victim then contacted the 911 center and said he was coming to the police station to speak to the officers.
The victim, Keith, said he had parked his Jeep in the parking lot near Sears in the morning due to engine problems and got a ride from his friend. Keith said he then called his father to tell him the Jeep broke down and Keith and his father went to the mall to get the vehicle, but it was gone.
Keith’s father said he was going to go back to the mud pits to look for the vehicle. He returned and said the Jeep was there but the keys were missing.
Keith filled out a written statement and the officers asked if Keith was telling the whole story, and that he didn’t get the vehicle stuck in the mud the following night. Keith said no and insisted he had parked the vehicle in the parking lot.
The officers then attempted to contact Keith’s friend who claimed he had been behind the vehicle, but the calls went to voicemail.
Police then spoke to the friend that had picked Keith up at the mall parking lot. The friend said that Keith had told him that he had been out “mudding” with Keith all night but got the Jeep stuck in the mud behind Lowe’s. The friend said Keith asked him to try to pull the Jeep out, but he refused and took Keith home.
The officers then spoke to Keith, who allegedly admitted to getting the Jeep stuck and that it was never stolen. Keith said he “got scared” and didn’t know what else to do.