Viral clips on social media of dashcam-recorded incidents where people do utterly dumb things like jump in front of a moving car and blame the driver just to see if they are lucky enough to claim some cash are popular things nowadays.
However, it had allegedly turned into a method for one couple in Southern California who were facing felony charges of insurance fraud and child endangerment. All it took was for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s close supervision and the dash camera footage posted on the couple’s YouTube channel.
BLU3 GHO57, a YouTube channel with 162 videos of alleged incidents of road rage, attempted collisions, and vehicle collisions, was run by Christopher Phelps and his wife Kimberly Phelps. Videos from the channel are still available on other well-liked YouTube compilations of dash camera videos even though the channel has since been deleted.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s investigation uncovered 42 videos of incidents of road rage and attempted collisions that seemed to be deliberate acts. Christopher Phelps’ 17 insurance claims were connected to 23 collisions.
Phelps’ child can be seen in the car during a number of the incidents that are featured on the channel, which started in July 2020.
“Allegedly there was a child involved, their child involved in the car, as well as I’m sure there were victims with children,” said Jacquelyn Rodriguez with the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.
In several incidents, Christopher Phelps is accused of setting up collisions with other drivers by pretending to be the victim. In an accident that was documented on the channel, Jeremy Perales drove over the yellow line in an effort to avoid hitting one of these allegedly set-up vehicles.
According to Perales, Phelps set up the collision in order to receive a favorable settlement from his insurance provider, and Phelps also accused Perales of the crime for which he is currently being prosecuted.
Kimberly and Christopher Phelps are both accused of child endangerment and insurance fraud, both of which are felonies. In addition to being charged with assault with a deadly weapon, Christopher Phelps is being held on a US$500,000 (RM2.2 million) bond, while his wife is being held on a US$170,000 (RM 750125.00) bond. Both have entered a not-guilty plea.
