“Chop! Chop!” went the axe, and Mohammed Assi went“Cha-ching!”

That's how the Durango Police Department sees it. The owner ofthe Downtown Smoke Shop is suspected of felony theft and false reporting to authorities, a misdemeanor.

According to authorities Assi, 24, drove his white Ford F-250 toa remote location behind Wal-Mart or Home Depot and, using an axe,damaged the vehicle. He then parked the truck near Seventh Streetand Main Avenue in Durango and reported it stolen.

The incident occurred in early January 2010, reports the arrestaffidavit filed in 6th Judicial District Court.

The pickup had several dents and several 4- to 5-inch cuts onthe tailgate and passenger-side door. The windshield was alsodamaged. After filing an insurance claim with Allstate, Assi was paid $10,579 and reimbursed $1,445 for arental vehicle.

Assi, however, purchased the pickup in late 2009 for only$4,000, according the arrest affidavit. It is unclear how Assicollected more money for the damaged truck than he paid for it.

During a brief phone interview on Nov. 14 with The DurangoHerald, Assi denied any wrongdoing.

Formal charges are expected to be filed soon. Assi is currentlyfree on a $50,000 bail.

Police became suspicious of Assi's story in June 2010, when twopeople came forward reporting that Assi had damaged his ownvehicle.

The police department, however, transferred its investigation tothe Colorado Bureau of Investigation after Assi was involved in atussle with a department officer. The incident occurred in July2010, at a local bar. The officer, Jeremy Linch, has since left thedepartment and pleaded guilty, in April, to disorderly conduct.

After several months, the case was transferred back to theDurango Police Department.