By Staff
NEW BUFFALO - Two men are behind bars for allegedly staging an armed robbery at Plaza One Truck Stop, 19290 M-239, New Buffalo Township, reports Capt. David Chandler of the Berrien County Sheriff's Office.
Chandler said at approximately 12:20 a.m. Feb. 22, clerk Christopher Beckman contacted Berrien County authorities by 911 and stated he had just been robbed.
Beckman said a lone gunman entered the store, demanded money and cigarettes, left the store and drove away in a red Grand Am westbound on Wilson Road.
Sheriff's detectives, with assistance by the New Buffalo Police Department, developed information from a subject that gave them the name of Jeffrey Ball.
Ball was wanted by the Berrien County Sheriff's Office on a felony probation violation warrant and other misdemeanor warrants. Information was also given implicating Ball with Beckman in this alleged fake armed robbery. Information was also given that Ball was at the Michigan City, Ind., Greyhound bus terminal attempting to board a bus for Florida.
Michigan City police arrested Ball without incident on the outstanding felony warrant out of Berrien County and also seized from Ball's person $166 in cash taken from Plaza One Truck Stop.
Detectives from the Berrien County Sheriff's Office interviewed Ball, who stated he and Beckman came up with the idea of calling in a false armed robbery.
When Beckman was interviewed, he admitted receiving a phone call from Ball, talking about the fake armed robbery over the phone.
He also admitted lying to deputies and detectives the night of the armed robbery, giving them false information about the suspect and description and direction of travel.
On Feb. 28, warrants for both Beckman and Ball were authorized by Fifth District Court.
Christopher Stephen Beckman, 25, of 209 Marshall St., New Buffalo, faces one count of embezzlement over $1,000, a five-year felony; and falsely reporting an armed robbery, a four-year felony.
Jeffrey Justin Ball, 20, of 6992 U.S. 12, Three Oaks, is charged with conspiring to embezzle more than $1,000, a five-year felony; and conspiring to commit a false report, to wit an armed robbery, a four-year felony.
Both subjects have been arrested and lodged at the Berrien County Jail in St. Joseph on $10,000 bond, with Ball facing various other outstanding warrants.
Chandler said a little over $200 in cash and six cartons of cigarettes had been recovered from both suspects. Investigation of the staged armed robbery continues.