×

Panama Man Charged After Crashing Car, Claiming It Was Stolen

A Panama man who claimed his car was stolen was instead found to have crashed it after leaving a Pennsylvania bar on the Fourth of July.

Zachary Dunham, 27, was taken into custody July 26 on charges of third-degree falsely reporting an incident and second-degree offering a false instrument for filing.

Troopers had responded to a Panama residence for a reported stolen vehicle.

Dunham claimed his vehicle was taken from his yard in the evening hours of July 4.

“Investigation revealed that Dunham was actually leaving a bar in Sugar Grove, Pa., when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed,” the New York State Police said in a press release.

A passenger in Dunham’s vehicle was taken by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Video surveillance and witnesses confirmed Dunham was driving and crashed his own vehicle during the time he reported it was stolen, state police said.

The Panama man was processed at police barracks in Jamestown and released with tickets to appear in Harmony Town Court next month to answer the charges.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today