Gunman story was made up, sheriff says

An Arizona man is facing criminal charges after he falsely told authorities that he had been held up in downtown Clarendon at gun point on August 27.

Ryan Scott, age 34, of Kingman was arrested Friday, September 8, after handwriting analysis by three experts determined that his written statement of the alleged crime was deceptive.

Scott, who is a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) employee, told the Donley County Sheriff’s Office that a man had held him up near the railroad on Kearney Street and taken off with about $80.

The sheriff’s office, along with the Department of Public Safety and Game Wardens from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept., searched for the suspect all day August 27 and through the night.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn said Scott had given a detailed description of the supposed robber, but shortly into the investigation, it became apparent that it was a fictitious report.

“We also obtained information that Scott was still using a credit card that was reported stolen to purchase plane tickets and fuel after the report,” the sheriff said. “We even had him on camera using the card.

Blackburn obtained a warrant and made the arrest, and Scott gave a full confession that he had made up the story.

Scott was booked into the Donley County Jail Friday on charges of False Report to a Peace Officer, a Class B Misdemeanor. He was arraigned later the same day by County Judge John Howard who set bond at $2,000. The suspect made bond the same day.

BNSF Railway Police assisted Blackburn’s office with this investigation.