18-year-old Lawrence man accused of making false theft report

Lawrence police arrested an 18-year-old Lawrence man early Tuesday accusing him of falsely reporting an armed robbery in northern Lawrence.

The man called officers about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday to a residence in the 400 block of John Doy Court, near Peterson Road and Kasold Drive, to report that armed men wearing ski masks stole a flat-screen television.

Sgt. Trent McKinley, a police spokesman, said officers determined during interviews that the armed suspects were never present and did not take the TV. The man, Ryan M. Glasscox, was booked into the Douglas County Jail on charges of obstruction, falsely reporting a crime and theft greater than $1,000.

“The caller had other motivations for reporting the theft and was not the actual owner of the TV,” McKinley said. “Based on his actions and the severity of the reported crime, he was arrested by officers.”

Douglas County prosecutors later Tuesday charged Glasscox with misdemeanor obstruction, and a judge set his bond at $1,000. His next hearing is scheduled for April 24.