Officers in Howard County, Maryland, encountered a peculiar situation when a man they were apprehending for a burglary had also just reported his own truck stolen. The incident, which police described as a dose of instant karma, unfolded on July 7, 2026.
Jalen Godard, 29, reportedly called 911 to report his truck stolen from a Baltimore parking lot. Minutes later, authorities received a call about a burglary in progress at a nearby Verizon store. When officers arrived at the burglary scene, Godard approached them, claiming his vehicle had been taken while he was at a McDonald's.
Bodycam footage released by the Howard County Police Department captured the interaction. As police investigated the Verizon store, an officer noticed blood on a broken window, an apparent entry point for the suspect. While questioning Godard, officers observed him keeping his left hand concealed in his sweatshirt pocket. When asked to show his hands, Godard initially presented his right, but upon revealing his left, police saw it was covered in blood, as was his eyewear.
Officers immediately placed Godard under arrest. When questioned about his presence at the Verizon store, given the blood on his hand and glasses, he denied involvement. However, surveillance footage from inside the store showed a person, presumably Godard, wearing a black balaclava and dark clothing, gathering merchandise. Despite the evidence, Godard continued to insist his truck had been stolen.
During the arrest, police discovered additional blood on his shirt. "I understand that. So the gig's up. It's whether you want to be honest about stuff or not," an officer told Godard, offering him a chance to confess. He continued to repeat that his truck was stolen. "That's kind of some karma right there, ain't it?" one of the officers asked.
"Well I left the keys in--" Godard began, before an officer responded with laughter, "Yeah, that's some karma s--t right there, dude."
Godard was subsequently charged with burglary, theft, and destruction of property. Details regarding the individual who allegedly stole Godard's truck were not immediately available.