On Nov. 14, DuBoistown resident Robert Lee Fritz notified city police that as he was driving the in the 500 block of West Fourth Street, another motorist cut him off in traffic, striking his car and pushing his Volkswagen Jetta into a parked BMW about 8:15 p.m, it was stated in an affidavit. Fritz, 61, of 2937 Cochran Ave., claimed the offending driver was operating a Ford white truck that hit his Jetta near the left front headlight, police said.

However, the damage to Fritz’s car did not match up with his statement, police said. Fritz submitted an insurance claim about the crash, police said, adding that he told officers at the scene, “I hope you catch them (the driver), ’cause if not, I have to pay my deductible.” Investigators obtained surveillance video of the incident which revealed that Fritz’s version of events was completely bogus, police said. The video showed Fritz’s car “drifting to the right and striking a parked BMW,” police said, adding that there was no evidence of any driver cutting off Fritz. He was arraigned before Gardner on felony insurance fraud and making a false report to law enforcement, a misdemeanor. Fritz was released on $25,000 bail.