Alleged 'birth certificate bandit' charged

The crime was serious, but the suspect's identifying mistake bordered on comical.

David R. Ward, 23, of Hugoton, Kan., was charged Tuesday with two counts of felony stealing, but it was what he allegedly left behind at the scene that has people amused.

Police say Ward left his own birth certificate in the hands of the woman whose car and purse he stole on Monday morning. Patrolman Jason Selzer said Ward might become known as "the birth certificate bandit" for his alleged actions.

"It almost tops the one we had where the guy ran away from work-release while his parents were bonding him out," Selzer said. "They all come to Cape eventually; we get all types here."

Betty Fadler was in the office of the Evangelical United Church of Christ at 37 S. Ellis in Cape Girardeau when a man rang the doorbell and asked to borrow a tire jack to change a flat. Fadler didn't have one, but let him in to use the office phone to call for help.

The man noticed a photocopier and told Fadler he was about to go on a job interview. He asked if she would copy his birth certificate.

Fadler copied the front and showed it to him. When she turned around to make a copy of the back side, she heard her car keys jingle. Fadler turned to see the man run out of the office holding her purse and keys.

The name on the birth certificate was David Randle Ward, and further information led police to locate and arrest him at 205 Rear S. Middle, Apt. 4, according to a probable cause statement written by patrolman Jeremy Wiedner.

The key to the stolen car was found in Ward's pants pocket. He is in custody on $7,500 bond.

The car and most of the woman's personal property were recovered.

mwells@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160