Investigation into alleged robbery leads to arrest of clerk, 2 others (2024)

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — The arrest affidavits of three men who are currently behind bars for theft reveal a connection between a fake robbery at a local convenience store and a SWAT team raid at a local apartment complex earlier this month.

Ke’syiah Dreshon Austin, 21, McKenzie Montrell Smith, 24, and Alvericio Chester Godet, 24, all of Wichita Falls, are currently being held in the Wichita County Jail on a $5,000 bond each for a charge of theft of property over $100 but less than $750.

Additionally, Godet is charged with making a false report to induce an emergency response with an added $20,000 bond. Austin is being held without bond on a warrant for violating his parole by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

Robbery reported at Stripes on Southwest Parkway

The theft charges stem from a report of a robbery at the Stripes store on the corner of Southwest Parkway and Taft Boulevard on Friday, June 7, 2024. Godet was the clerk at the store and Smith was formerly employed there.

According to the arrest affidavit, Godet reported the robbery, saying a tall Black male with a black hoodie and grey shorts came in with a firearm and fled west on Southwest Parkway. Police said they combed the area but failed to find a suspect.

Authorities said surveillance video showed a man matching that description come in about two hours before the report was called in and buy items, then at the time of the report, come back in, this time with a bandana over his face.

Surveillance video from other businesses shows the suspect entering and leaving with another tall Black male.

The store manager also gave police surveillance video of a theft in the store on June 3, which he said shows an ex-employee, Smith, coming in and crouching behind the cash register and taking money from the safes.

Police said Smith was wearing the same clothing worn by the man who was seen leaving with the robbery suspect. Other surveillance video showed two men walking to an apartment at Colony Park after the reported robbery.

WFPD, SWAT serve search warrant at Colony Park

Authorities obtained a search warrant on the apartment, which was served a week later on Friday, June 14, 2024, with the assistance of SWAT. While executing that warrant, police said Smith was taken into custody.

According to authorities, Smith agreed to talk to police, telling them that he and the clerk, Godet, were involved, along with Austin. He told police they planned the robbery and that he was the lookout.

After this information, Godet was charged with theft by embezzlement and making a false report. They said the investigation showed Godet planned the robbery and that surveillance after the robbery showed Godet making regular visits to the apartment where Smith and Austin stayed, and that texts and phone calls also verified they planned the robbery.

Police said when Austin was arrested on an unrelated warrant and questioned about the robbery, he denied any involvement.

WFPD spokesperson discusses response to false reports

While the charges against Godet, Smith, and Austin are all misdemeanors and an actual aggravated robbery is a first-degree felony offense, authorities said real or not, the initial response to the calls is the same. High-priority responses pose a risk to both officers and citizens.

Sgt. Charlie Eipper, Public Information Officer with the Wichita Falls Police Department, said making a false report not only puts people in danger, but it ties up resources that may be needed for other responses.

Sgt. Eipper said this incident was reported as an armed robbery, which heightens the type of response because there is possibly someone with a gun putting lives at risk.

“It just becomes dangerous,” Sgt. Eipper said. “Very dangerous when you make these kinds of alleged reports that are false and saying that you’ve been robbed or somebody else has a weapon, and then officers come across somebody who may not even be the same person but maybe have fit the description, clothing and so forth.”

Previous robbery at this store ended in fatality

In this instance, Sgt. Eipper said a previous real robbery could have been on the minds of responding officers.

On February 12, 2022, officers responded to the same Stripes location in response to reports of a robbery. When they arrived on the scene, they found the clerk, Floyd Kirt, dead from gunshot wounds suffered during the robbery.

Tajmon Robinson was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole in March 2024. He is currently appealing that sentence.