Jacksonville man says police falsely accused him of armed robbery

Police say it happened because someone filed false report

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 24-year-old Jacksonville man is calling for a public apology from police, saying his character was defamed.

Kenneth Myers said police falsely accused him of armed robbery and charged him with two misdemeanors. 

It turns out he was falsely accused because someone filed a false police report, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. 

"Anything could've happened to me since I was falsely accused of such a crime. My life could've been gone at any second for making one false move," Myers said Wednesday. 

On Saturday, police arrested him at a Gate gas station near the corner of Collins and Westport roads in the city’s Chimney Lakes neighborhood. Police initially believed he was a robbery suspect, but later learned the person who claimed he was the victim of a home invasion robbery made up the story. That person is now charged with falsifying information given to police. 

"It ended up the 'victim' of the home invasion later told police he fabricated the incident and was charged for it," a JSO spokesperson wrote in an email sent Wednesday to News4Jax. 

Myers also told News4Jax that police admitted he wasn't their suspect. His car, which he said was badly damaged by police, fit the description of a suspect's vehicle. 

The JSO report shows that police had the wrong man. But Myers was still charged with two misdemeanors and now he's fighting to have those cleared from his record. 

"I'm still taken to jail and charged with two misdemeanor charges. One is resisting arrest and the second is reckless driving," Myers said. 

Initially, officers told media that they were investigating whether or not Myers was connected to a home invasion investigation. Wednesday, police confirmed Myers was not a robbery suspect.

"I don't know the protocol for stuff like this. They never turned on their police sirens so they caught me by surprise," Myers said. "I want a lot of people to put themselves in my shoes because a lot of people are talking about police protocol. But in this situation, I don't have a protocol. I don't know what to do."

Although Myers didn't rob anyone, he was still arrested on charges of resisting officers without violence and reckless driving. Police said when they showed up at the Gate gas station in response to their possible suspect, Myers went into a restroom and didn't come our for 10 minutes after officers announced they were there, and because of that, Myers is facing a charge of resisting arrest. 

"I walk to the back and they're still pointing their guns at my car. I don't know what to do or think. I head into the restroom to call my mother and use the restroom again," Myers said. 

Police said Myers is facing the reckless driving charge based on observations of his driving pattern made by officers. 

Myers said he was simply afraid during the whole encounter. He said he called his mother while in the restroom. 

"All I could do was cry out to God. That's all I could do because no one else could get close to him and I knew God could be there to comfort my child," said Andria Myers, his mother. 

Andria Myers was there when her son was arrested. She said watching her son being taken away in handcuffs was difficult, especially knowing that he was innocent. 

"It's heartbreaking as a mom because now they're messing with his character," she said. 

Looking back, Myers said, he still wouldn't have done anything different. 

"The Lord says everything happens for a reason. I know everything happens for a reason," he said. 

News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said when police receive suspect information on criminal cases, they must respond to it and follow up.

In his opinion, Smith said, if someone intentionally provides false information to police, that person should be held liable for any damages that occurs in the investigation.