In a twist of fate, a bungled burglary at a car dealership in Tyler, Texas, led the would-be thief to call 911 on himself.
Key Takeaways
- A man attempted to break into a car dealership in Texas and called the police on himself after getting injured.
- The incident occurred at Patterson Dodge in Tyler, Texas.
- The suspect, Jeremiah Megallon, injured himself by cutting on broken glass after throwing a rock through a window.
- Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh noted that there were several unlocked doors Megallon could have used to exit.
- Megallon was treated for his injuries at a hospital and then arrested for burglary.
Bungled Break-In
In an unusual encounter, Jeremiah Megallon, aged 38 from Mabank, attempted to break into the Patterson Dodge dealership in Tyler, Texas. In a moment of panic and injury, he inadvertently sought police help by making a 911 call, mistaking his situation as being trapped. The incident unfolded when Megallon threw a rock through a dealership window, cutting himself on the broken glass.
The window was a stubborn 1-inch double-pane, making exit challenging but not impossible, given the multiple unlocked doors available.
Despite the apparent escape routes, Megallon remained inside the building, mistaken that he was trapped. “Unfortunately for him, there were several unlocked doors he could have used to get out,” reported Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh.
The 911 Call
In a moment of confusion and desperation, Megallon contacted emergency services through 911. Responding officers found him wounded, yet he had caused no substantial damage apart from breaking a window – the only other item taken being candy from an employee’s desk. Rendering immediate medical care to Megallon, the officers then arrested him for the attempted theft.
Following medical treatment, he was taken to Smith County Jail to face charges of burglary. His injury-led arrest adds to similar instances where suspects inadvertently involve law enforcement in their capture.
NEW: Would-be thief calls 911 on himself after getting injured and thinking he was trapped during a failed break-in at a Dodge dealership in Tyler, Texas
The only thing Jeremiah Megallon, 38, managed to steal was candy from a salesperson’s desk pic.twitter.com/EVh6tGpQDP
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) March 30, 2025
Law Enforcement Perspective
Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh shared insight into the peculiar nature of the occurrence, affirming: “After 26 years here, truth is stranger than fiction.” This is not the first instance of suspects self-reporting; Officer Erbaugh recounted a previous case of a retired dentist confessing to a severe crime. Despite the unusual parallels drawn, incidents such as this solidify community trust in Tyler’s law enforcement.
The community continues to react to the comedic interlude amidst more serious crime-related issues. Megallon’s case highlights both the unpredictability and sometimes unintended comedy in crime within the region.
Sources:
- Would-be thief has to call 911 to beg for help when he’s hurt during goofy break-in — and mistakenly thinks he’s trapped – DNyuz
- Texas man calls 911 after injuring himself during alleged car dealership break-in
