An unexpected twist occurred during a burglary attempt at a Texas car dealership when the suspect injured himself breaking in and called 911 for help.
Key Insights
- 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.
- Megallon mistakenly believed he was trapped inside the dealership and called the police for help, despite there being other exits.
The Failed Break-In
Jeremiah Megallon, a 38-year-old from Mabank, Texas, recently brought national attention upon himself for his ill-fated burglary attempt at Patterson Dodge. Attempting a break-in, he threw a rock through the 1-inch double-pane window, only to end up injuring himself with glass shards. In a state of confusion, Megallon believed he was trapped inside the dealership, despite several accessible exits.
In a surprising move, Megallon called 911, inadvertently guiding police directly to him. Officers found him injured and later confirmed that “there were several unlocked doors he could have used to get out,” according to Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh. Fortunately, law enforcement officials were able to administer treatment for his injuries before transporting him to the hospital and subsequently charging him with burglary.
Minimal Damage, Real Consequences
The incident resulted in relatively minor consequences for Patterson Dodge. The main disarray involved a broken window, which the dealership arranged to replace swiftly. Other than that, the only loss was limited to candy snatched from a salesperson’s desk.
Smith County Jail soon became Megallon’s new home. Facing charges of burglary, the incident marked another inadvertent self-surrender, prompting reminiscences from Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh about a former case.
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
Reflections from Law Enforcement
Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh shared reflections on similar situations from his 26 years of service. He recounted a case of a retired dentist who voluntarily confessed to a murder, showcasing how unusual suspect behavior is often encountered in law enforcement. “After 26 years here, truth is stranger than fiction,” quipped Officer Erbaugh.
This particular case underscores a lesser-seen side of criminal attempts, where poor choices and misjudgments lead to an almost comedic unraveling of a crime. While Megallon faces serious burglary charges, his story undeniably joins the ranks of countless other bizarre encounters law enforcement officials face every day.
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
