An unusual twist unfolded in Tyler, Texas, when an attempted burglar ended up dialing 911 on himself after sustaining injuries during a break-in at a Dodge dealership.
Quick Takes
- Jeremiah Megallon injured himself during a break-in at a Dodge dealership.
- After thinking he was trapped, he called the police for help.
- The incident resulted in minimal damage, with only a window broken.
- Megallon was arrested and charged with burglary after receiving medical care.
Burglar Calls Police on Himself
In a bizarre event at Patterson Dodge in Tyler, Texas, Jeremiah Megallon attempted a break-in. Using a rock, he shattered a window, which resulted in a self-inflicted injury from broken glass. Despite numerous exits, Megallon believed he was trapped inside the dealership and called 911 for assistance, spelling an unexpected end to the crime spree.
Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh remarked that Megallon could have easily exited through one of several unlocked doors. Instead, he waited for officers, who first tended to his injuries before proceeding with his arrest for burglary. The 38-year-old from Mabank found himself facing legal consequences as one of the more peculiar participants in an ill-executed crime.
Minimal Damage, Maximum Call for Help
This incident, despite its seriousness, inflicted only minor damage—the dealership is left with one broken window to replace. In addition to leaving behind shattered glass, Megallon achieved little in terms of valuable theft, managing only to take candy from a salesperson’s desk. Erbaugh wryly noted the humor in the events, although no stranger to unusual cases, saying, “After 26 years here, truth is stranger than fiction.”
As unusual as this case is, the example set by Megallon serves as a reminder of how quickly a night’s plan can unravel into a self-produced arrest. The case also highlights the continued importance of effective law enforcement in the community, where swift response times and professional actions ensured public safety and evidenced the seamless operation of justice.
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
A Lesson in Amateur Crime
This situation marks another of East Texas’s strange tales, as people occasionally find themselves on the wrong side of the law with no choice but to turn themselves in. While Megallon’s wounds were immediately addressed, the charge remains—burglary of a building. This case, alongside others, indicates the unpredictability of both crime and human decisions, particularly when desperation overtakes logic.
Such episodes, strange as they are, underline the necessity of vigilance and the robustness of societal rule of law, ensuring that even the most faltering criminals find justice swiftly and without further disruption to the community at large.
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
