A routine test drive at a Texas car dealership turned into a violent encounter and a swift arrest after a suspect allegedly stole a Ford Mustang and left behind a crucial piece of evidence: his own ID.
A Test Drive Turns Into an Armed Robbery
The incident happened June 20 at about 2 p.m. at a dealership in Jasper County, Texas, roughly 115 miles northeast of Houston. According to police, a man posing as a customer asked to test drive a new Ford Mustang. Following standard procedure, the salesperson held onto the man’s driver’s license before handing over the keys.
Investigators say the situation escalated moments later when the suspect allegedly pulled a gun on the salesperson and drove off alone in the car. The dealership was left without the vehicle, but it did have something almost as valuable: the suspect’s identification, still sitting at the front desk.
Found in Under Two Hours
The stolen car, a bright white Mustang 5.0, was reported missing shortly after the robbery. Just over 90 minutes later, officers spotted the vehicle, which stood out in the sparsely populated area. Police noted it was displaying an outdated license plate that didn’t match the car, along with unusual writing on the rear window reading “C.I.A. 0087.”
Officers conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as 38-year-old Justin Keith Colley of Village Mills, Texas. Authorities say he complied with commands and was taken into custody without further incident. He’s charged with aggravated robbery and may face additional charges that haven’t yet been announced; as with any pending case, those allegations remain unproven in court. Officers also recovered a firearm during the arrest.
An Unusual Explanation
After his arrest, Colley spoke with local media and denied using a gun during the theft. He said he believed he was on a mission to deliver classified intelligence to the CIA, describing his actions as an attempt to prevent what he called the collapse of America — a claim that reportedly lined up with the writing found on the car’s rear window.
Law enforcement has not indicated that Colley’s claims have any factual basis. The case remains under investigation, but authorities say the rapid arrest is a clear example of how quickly car theft cases can be resolved when a suspect leaves identifying information behind.