TV's 'Bait Car' leads to detective charges

LOS ANGELES, May 8 (UPI) -- Authorities in California said an alleged thief caught on the cameras of TV show "Bait Car" was let go after footage showed he was not read his Miranda rights.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said charges were dropped against Keenan Alex, 28, after the footage from the TruTV program was reviewed and a criminal perjury investigation was started against sheriff's Detective Anthony Shapiro, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

The department said footage from the program depicts Alex driving off in a red Cadillac Escalade that was left with the engine running and the keys in the ignition. He was pulled over a short distance away and placed in handcuffs.

Investigators said Shapiro testified in court that he read Alex each of his Miranda rights from a card in his notebook before the suspect made any incriminating statements, but the footage from the program depicts Shapiro saying only, "You watch TV. You know your rights and all that?"

Deputy District Attorney Christopher Frisco said the case was dropped against Alex because statements he made at the time of his arrest could no longer be used to counter his defense team's argument that his mental illness played a role in the incident.