Post by KC on Sept 12, 2006 21:22:51 GMT -5
September 12, 2006 - A former Kilgore reserve police officer faces misdemeanor charges after authorities say his tale of being carjacked and kidnapped was a hoax.
John Michael Cannon Jr., also a former Gladewater schools trustee, was arrested Wednesday and charged with filing a false report to a peace officer during the course of an investigation, a Class B misdemeanor. If convicted, Cannon could be jailed up to 180 days and assessed a fine up to $2,000.
He was released from the Smith County Jail on $500 bond.
The 32-year-old man's charges stem from his reports to Smith County investigators, Oklahoma City police and the FBI that he was carjacked and kidnapped as he traveled to work in Tyler. He was found in Oklahoma City.
Cannon told authorities that he was on his way to work in Tyler about 4:30 a.m. July 18 when he noticed a stranded motorist in a green Jeep Cherokee. He first thought the woman stopped on U.S. 271 near Interstate 20 was a co-worker, the police report states.
The report says after he stopped and got out of his vehicle, a man appeared, pointed a gun at him and said, "We need a ride." Cannon said he was initially instructed to drive, but his abductor later took over the driving.
Cannon reported he was dropped off on a dirt road in an undeveloped housing addition in Oklahoma City. He was told to lie face down, and he stayed there until he couldn't hear the suspects talking anymore, the report stated.
When Oklahoma police found him, Cannon was "staggering and having some difficulty walking in the 100-degree temperature," according to the report.
Smith County sheriff's officials said they could not find the Jeep that Cannon said he saw on U.S. 271. Cannon's 1999 brown Chevrolet Suburban was found burned in the Oklahoma City area.
Ronnie Moore, Kilgore's public safety director, said Cannon has been terminated as a reserve officer. He said a request also has been made to revoke Cannon's state peace officers license.
www.news-journal.com/news/content/news/stories/09092006Hoax.html
John Michael Cannon Jr., also a former Gladewater schools trustee, was arrested Wednesday and charged with filing a false report to a peace officer during the course of an investigation, a Class B misdemeanor. If convicted, Cannon could be jailed up to 180 days and assessed a fine up to $2,000.
He was released from the Smith County Jail on $500 bond.
The 32-year-old man's charges stem from his reports to Smith County investigators, Oklahoma City police and the FBI that he was carjacked and kidnapped as he traveled to work in Tyler. He was found in Oklahoma City.
Cannon told authorities that he was on his way to work in Tyler about 4:30 a.m. July 18 when he noticed a stranded motorist in a green Jeep Cherokee. He first thought the woman stopped on U.S. 271 near Interstate 20 was a co-worker, the police report states.
The report says after he stopped and got out of his vehicle, a man appeared, pointed a gun at him and said, "We need a ride." Cannon said he was initially instructed to drive, but his abductor later took over the driving.
Cannon reported he was dropped off on a dirt road in an undeveloped housing addition in Oklahoma City. He was told to lie face down, and he stayed there until he couldn't hear the suspects talking anymore, the report stated.
When Oklahoma police found him, Cannon was "staggering and having some difficulty walking in the 100-degree temperature," according to the report.
Smith County sheriff's officials said they could not find the Jeep that Cannon said he saw on U.S. 271. Cannon's 1999 brown Chevrolet Suburban was found burned in the Oklahoma City area.
Ronnie Moore, Kilgore's public safety director, said Cannon has been terminated as a reserve officer. He said a request also has been made to revoke Cannon's state peace officers license.
www.news-journal.com/news/content/news/stories/09092006Hoax.html