Texas teen charged with trying to rob police station
Arthur Weinreb May 12, 2012
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It is alleged the 18-year-old walked into a suburban Dallas police station, demanded money, said he had a gun. He didn't have a gun but police officers had them and took the teen down at gunpoint.
It was a 'he said, she said.' He said it was a joke; she said it was a robbery.
Last week Keithan Manuel, 18, walked into a Wilmer, Texas police station, about 15 miles south of Dallas. He had a white towel covering his hands and is alleged to have walked up to a dispatcher and demanded money.
Quickly after making the demand he changed his story and asked if he had any outstanding warrants. The "joke" might have ended there, but dispatcher Patricia Hughey claims after asking about warrants, Manuel told her he had a gun. She called for assistance and Manuel, who was not armed, was arrested.
In describing what happened, Wilmer Police Chief Victor Kemp was quoted by WLWT as saying,
He said he had to check a warrant, but it was pretty obvious it was a situation. He gave a different name, and after a few moments of maybe playing it off he said, 'You do know I have a gun.'
In response to telling Hughey he had a gun, Manuel was quoted by the CBS affiliate in Dallas/Forth Worth as saying,
I didn't say nothing like that, I swear to God I didn't say nothing like that. Man I play like that all the time, I didn't think she would take it seriously.
Kemp was quoted by WTAM as saying,
You hear of these world's dumbest criminals every once in a while but you never think it's going to happen in your city.
Manuel remains in the Dallas County Jail facing robbery, theft, and other charges.
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