According to authorities, a man from Maryland received immediate “karma” when his pickup was taken while he was breaking into a Verizon store.
Jalen Godard, 29, is accused of second-degree burglary, theft, and property destruction in relation to the alleged June 25 heist attempt at the Ellicott City business.
According to bodycam footage shared on social media by the Howard County Police Department, Godard stated that “someone took my truck” when he was at McDonald’s when a police officer spotted him outside a 7-11 at 5:44 a.m.
The same officer, Pfc. Buchanan, was responding to a burglary report at a Verizon store across the street when he saw a blood-stained, smashed window minutes earlier.
A masked intruder was seen rushing around the Verizon store in separate CCTV footage; according to a June 25 HCPD police bulletin, the culprit stole speakers.
Back at the 7-11, Buchanan claimed to have seen blood on Godard’s hands and on his glasses. Buchanan then cuffed Godard and placed his hands behind his back.
Godard denied being in the shop. “Sir, I wasn’t at any Verizon store. According to the video, he said, “I swear to God.”
However, Godard appeared to accept his fate shortly after Buchanan informed him that “the gig’s up.”
After then, the video cuts to Godard stating, “They stole my f—ing truck? God, oh God.
Godard claimed that after temporarily leaving the keys in his truck to enter the 7-11, he returned to a vacant parking space. Godard is then shown being arrested in the video.
According to records, he is being detained by the Howard County Department of Corrections. He waived his right to counsel during his bond review on June 25 and is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on July 24. It’s unclear if he has made a plea.
