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Man lures police with phony call, robs their station
Friday, September 03, 2004

JOHNSTOWN -- A man was charged with luring officers away from their police station in Cambria County with bogus emergency calls and then breaking into the station and stealing weapons, a police radio and leg shackles.

William Brown, 21, of Jackson Township, was arraigned yesterday on charges of burglary, criminal trespassing, theft and calling in false alarms stemming from the break-in at the East Taylor Township police department on Aug. 16.

Police said they linked Brown to the burglary through his mother's cell phone, which investigators said he used to call authorities to two phony emergencies -- a break-in at a restaurant and a car accident.

When firefighters returned to the building they shared with the police department, they noticed that the station's door was open. Police allege that Brown kicked in the door to the evidence room and took the items.

Brown remained in the Cambria County Prison, where he was being held on a probation violation.

First published on September 3, 2004 at 12:00 am