Police say carjacking claim was hoax

Carjack Hoax (Added: October 22, 2009)

North Smithfield police say a man made up a story about being carjacked. (more)

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Seth Desjarlais, of Burrillville, was arraigned Thursday in Providence District Court after being charged with filing a false report, making a false 911 claim and obstruction of justice. North Smithfield police said Desjarlais claimed he was carjacked.

By NBC 10 NEWS
Published: October 22, 2009

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NORTH SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- North Smithfield police arrested a man who claimed he was carjacked.

Seth Desjarlais, of Burrillville, was arraigned in Providence District Court on Thursday after being charged with filing a false report, making a false 911 claim and obstruction of justice. He was released on personal recognizance.

Police said Desjarlais called 911 Tuesday night to say he had been carjacked at gunpoint on the exit ramp of Route 146 at Pound Hill Road.

Police said Desjarlais claimed that a man with a gun came out of the woods, smashed the window and took off in his car.

"There were a few holes in the story to begin with that just needed to be checked out by our detectives, which they did," said Chief Steven Reynolds of the North Smithfield Police Department.

Police said parts of the car were found at the auto body shop where Desjarlais worked.

"The vehicle itself was never in the town of North Smithfield on Tuesday night during the alleged carjacking. It was being dismantled over the course of time," Reynolds said.

Police said the car is registered to Desjarlais' girlfriend.

Reynolds said police are looking into another "person of interest" believed to have helped Desjarlais.

"We do anticipate more arrests to follow," Reynolds said.

Desjarlais was arrested Wednesday night at his home in Pascoag.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.