Man calls police to report stolen truck during Verizon store robbery; Gets arrested [VIDEO]
The suspect was caught after officers noticed blood on his hands from breaking into the store
A Maryland man who called police to report his truck stolen while he was in the middle of robbing a Verizon store was arrested after officers noticed blood on his hands, glasses, and shirt. The 87-second compilation, posted by @Raindropsmedia1, shows body camera footage of the suspect being detained as officers connect him to the burglary across the street.
The went viral, reaching nearly 300,000 views in one day. It documents the June 25 incident in Ellicott City. Jalen Godard, 29, of Odenton, Maryland, was charged with burglary, theft, and destruction of property after officers responded to his stolen vehicle report and linked him to the nearby break-in.
The 911 Call That Led to His Arrest
The incident unfolded in the early morning hours of June 25, along Baltimore National Pike in Ellicott City. A burglary occurred at a Verizon store around 5:00 a.m., with a window broken to gain entry. Blood was observed on the broken glass, and security camera footage captured a person in dark clothing inside the store removing merchandise.
While the burglary was occurring or immediately after, the suspect’s vehicle — a 2007 black Chevrolet Equinox described as his truck — was stolen from a nearby parking area. The suspect then called 911 to report his vehicle stolen.
When officers responded to the stolen vehicle call around 5:45 a.m., they observed blood on the man’s hands, glasses, and shirt. This was connected to the blood evidence at the broken Verizon store window across the street. Police reviewed the store’s security footage. That footage showed an individual matching the man’s general description inside the store during the burglary.
Blood on His Hands and Glasses
The body camera footage shows the suspect standing near the exterior of a commercial building, identified in reports as a 7-Eleven. Officers interact with him as he stands near the building. Text overlays and subtitles provide context, with the officer telling the man to put his hands behind his back.
During the interaction, an officer states: “Alright, put your hands behind your back for me.” Subtitles note the blood evidence: “Because you got blood on your hands and blood on your glasses.” The officer adds: “You got blood on your shirt.”
The suspect initially denied involvement. As a result, he told the officers “I wasn’t at no Verizon store, sir” and claimed he had been elsewhere. Some reports say he mentioned being at a McDonald’s or that he left the keys in the vehicle. Officers pointed out the blood evidence and directed him to show his hands. He was placed in handcuffs.
The body camera footage captures the moment the suspect realizes the situation has turned against him. The blood on his hands and clothing — evidence from the broken window — had tied him directly to the burglary he was trying to hide.
What Goes Around Comes Around, the Arresting Officer Mentions Karma
One officer stated to the suspect: “That’s kind of some karma […] right there, ain’t it?” and “That’s some karma right there, dude.” The suspect made statements acknowledging the theft of his own vehicle. His facial expressions caught him flatfooted, so there was surprise on his face.
The irony of the situation has become the central focus of public discussion. The suspect called police to report his vehicle stolen while he was in the process of committing a burglary. However, the responding officers noticed the blood evidence that linked him to the crime.
The officer’s comment — “That’s kind of some karma […] right there, ain’t it?” — has been widely quoted in coverage and social media. The immediate irony of a criminal calling law enforcement during the commission of a crime has been noted as a rare example of poetic justice.
The suspect’s vehicle was stolen during or after the burglary. The person who stole Godard’s vehicle has not been publicly identified or apprehended. Police have not released further details on that separate theft investigation.
Viewers on X Appreciate the Irony of the Situation
On X, many users highlighted the irony of the situation. One user wrote, “He calls the cops during his crime to report a crime!…..I’m dyin 🤣.” Another commented, “Calling the cops to report your getaway vehicle stolen mid robbery is a level of irony you can’t script.”
Some users described the incident as an example of criminal error or poor judgment. “This is why they say we’re low iQ,” one user wrote. Another commented, “Always thought the stupidest criminals are those who call the cops to report buying fake drugs or getting ripped off over drugs. But calling cause your getaway car was stolen while you were robbing a store? New level of stupidity.”
References to the “karma” element appeared frequently. “The immediate Karma you can ever think of,” one user wrote. Another commented, “Karma is a […].”
Some users made comparisons to similar past stories. “Reminds me of the one guy who called the police cause McDonalds served him cold fries, just for him to get arrested in old murder charges 😭,” one user wrote.
A small number of replies expressed skepticism about the identification or offered alternative interpretations. “How do they know it was him just because he has blood on him 🤔,” one user wrote. Another commented, “Not the same guy in the video. Different black shirt.” However, these voices were outnumbered by those amused by the irony.
Several replies contained racially derogatory language or generalizations about Black people and crime. “Black folks. Yall gotta stop […] stealing. Gahhhh damn,” one user wrote. Another commented, “Can these feral animals go a day without committing crimes?” The language reflected the polarized nature of the response.
The Charges and Court Proceedings
Godard was arrested at the scene and charged with burglary, theft, and destruction of property. Court records indicated he was held without bond. No additional information about his court proceedings or potential sentence was available in the provided data.
The Howard County Police Department released body camera footage of the interaction, which was edited and shared widely on social media. The viral versions include explanatory text overlays, a suspect photograph, and interior store surveillance insets showing the individual inside the Verizon store.
The incident occurred on June 25, but the video gained significant traction in the past week after being posted by aggregator accounts.
Final Thoughts: A Criminal’s Call for Help Becomes His Downfall
The Verizon store robbery call has become one of the most memorable examples of criminal irony in recent memory. A man who broke into a store, left blood at the scene, and then called police to report his stolen vehicle found himself in handcuffs instead of getting help finding his truck.
The officer’s words about karma captured what viewers across social media have been saying since the body camera footage was released. Godard faces burglary, theft, and destruction of property charges. His truck remains missing. And the person who stole it? Police are still looking for them too.