Fraud charges placed in insurance claim
JAMESTOWN — A Jamestown man faces insurance fraud charges after investigators say he staged a trip-and- fall accident in a supermarket in July.
Benedict Harkins, 46, of West Seventh Street, was arrested last week by Jamestown police.
Harkins claimed he was injured when he tripped and fell over a rug at a Farm Fresh Market entrance on July 24, though video surveillance revealed he laid on the floor after adjusting the rug to make it look like he tripped.
Harkins was taken to a hospital and treated for a purported back injury. He submitted an insurance claim but later withdrew the claim after being informed of the video, officials said.
He drew the attempted petit larceny charge after he submitted an $860 bill for the ambulance service to the market’s insurer.
If convicted, Harkins faces up to one year in jail. He was released pending a hearing in Jamestown City Court.
David Hahn of the state Insurance Department Frauds Bureau led the investigation.
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