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Camas man arrested after claiming he was kidnapped

John R. McPhail planned to scam money from his mother

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A Camas man was arrested after police allege he falsely claimed that he had been kidnapped.

On July 24, at 10 a.m., 911 callers reported a male, later identified as John R. McPhail, of Camas, had fallen out of a silver Dodge Neon on Interstate 205 northbound near Johnson Creek Boulevard. His hands were bound behind his back and a bag was over his head

According to an Oregon State Police press release, McPhail, 57, fell out of the vehicle and it came to a stop. Two males got out of the car and approached McPhail, but as witnesses stopped at the scene they returned to their vehicle. One witness attempted to flatten a tire on the Neon before it left the scene.

McPhail received minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, where he was treated and released.

McPhail initially told investigators he had been kidnapped in Camas.

“This launched an extensive cooperative investigation between the Camas police and Oregon State Police, which included Camas police executing a search warrant at McPhail’s residence,” stated a CPD press release.

Inconsistencies in McPhail’s story led investigators to allege he was lying.

“Eventually, McPhail confessed that the kidnapping was staged in an attempt to get money from his mother,” stated the CPD press release. “However, the plan failed and his mother never lost any money.”

He was arrested for initiating a false report and first degree conspiracy to commit theft. He was booked into the Clackamas County Jail.

OSP is seeking the public’s assistance in locating the two Camas men, Justin M. Gibson, 36, and Joseph L. Gibson, 33, who were with McPhail in the Dodge Neon with Washington plate number AYW4837. Anyone with information should call (503) 375-3555.