Full Breakdown
Howard County Man Arrested After Car Stolen During Verizon Store Burglary
7/4/2026, 7:56:37 PM
Burglary and Stolen-Vehicle Incident
On June 25, Howard County police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle on Baltimore National Pike in Ellicott City, Maryland. Minutes later they were dispatched to a burglary at a Verizon Wireless store across the street. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Jalen Godard of Odenton, had called police to report his car missing before officers arrived at the burglary scene. Body-camera footage captures Godard denying involvement while officers observed a shattered window and fresh blood on the glass.
Evidence and Arrest
Officers noted blood on the broken window, on Godard’s hands, shirt and glasses, matching the stains found on his clothing. Surveillance video from the Verizon store, referenced by police, allegedly captures Godard committing the break-in. The forensic link prompted officers to place Godard in handcuffs and charge him with burglary, theft and destruction of property. His vehicle was later recovered after being taken by an unidentified second individual.
Official Police Commentary
The Howard County Police Department posted a video of the encounter on social media, praising PFC Buchanan for linking the stolen-vehicle report to the burglary and noting that the suspect’s car was taken while he was committing the break-in. The post also highlighted the circumstance with a rhetorical question about the car theft. No comment from Godard’s attorney was released.
Conflicting Accounts and Unresolved Details
The officer’s “karma” remark appears in three slightly different wordings across the reports: “That’s some karma right there dude,” “That’s kind of some karma right there, ain’t it?” and “That’s some karma right there.” The variation reflects minor reporting differences but does not change the substance. Police have not yet identified the second thief who took the car, leaving a key investigative gap.
Verbatim Quotes
- “That's some karma right there dude,” — Howard County police officer (body-camera audio)
- “Don't you hate it when your car gets stolen while you're committing a burglary?” — Howard County Police Department post
- “Great work by PFC Buchanan connecting the dots to the burglary across the street when this suspect called to report his car was stolen.” — Howard County Police Department post
Future Legal Proceedings
Godard faces burglary, theft and destruction of property charges and will be processed through the Howard County criminal justice system. The department continues to investigate the theft of his vehicle, seeking the unidentified driver. Police have not yet identified the second thief who took the car.
