TEMPE, Ariz. — A Valley woman reportedly tried taking the blame for stealing a high-end bottle of cognac from a Tempe restaurant, police said.
Tempe Police initially reported a couple, identified as Matthew Steve, 32, and Channel Miller, 34, voluntarily turned themselves in for allegedly stealing a nearly $4,000 bottle of alcohol from Three Thirty Three on Scottsdale Road.
However, detectives said newly received evidence confirmed Miller is not the woman suspected in the theft.
“While probable cause existed at the time of her arrest based on the information available to investigators, the new evidence led detectives to determine she was not involved,” a Tempe Police spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.
The new developments came as a bizarre twist for the restaurant’s CEO and founder, John DeVries.
“I can’t even fathom. I don’t get it. I don’t know really what’s going on, why you would if you were absolutely not the person involved, why would you turn yourself in in a crime of a class four felony,” DeVries said.
DeVries previously shared surveillance video of the theft from May 4. It shows a man standing in front of the restaurant’s luxury liquor cart as a woman takes a bottle of alcohol and hides it in her purse.
“The total liquor that was on it was over $20,000. The bottle that they took, obviously, they knew that it was a bottle that is very much attractive on the black market,” DeVries said.
Police said Steve is still facing a felony theft charge after identifying him as the man in the video.
According to court records, Steve called the restaurant after seeing himself on the news.
“Matthew actually called us and then he hung up before we could talk to him,” DeVries said.
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DeVries told 12News that two men he believes are relatives of the suspect returned the bottle of cognac.
“He said, ‘This is the bottle of Louis XIII. I’m so sorry. I’m returning it.’ They videoed it and ran out,” DeVries said.
DeVries said he gave the bottle to the police for evidence. Then, he got another phone call.
“His father called and begging that to not have him be arrested and not charged,” DeVries said.
Police weren’t able to provide any more clarity of the new developments, including if Miller could face any consequences for wrongfully taking blame.
DeVries said he’s confident investigators will find the right woman, thanks to his more than 80 surveillance cameras.
“It gave the investigators everything they need from every angle,” DeVries said.
He’s still hoping whoever it is does the right thing.
“Turn yourself in. There’s no reason to be on the run. They’re going to get you. It’s inevitable,” DeVries said.
Police said they believe Steve could be associated with the Romanian Travelers Criminal Group, which is known to target businesses in theft and fraud-related crimes across the country.
12News attempted to reach Steve and Miller for comment, but they declined to talk.
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