CURRITUCK — A Currituck County man was arrested last week on insurance fraud charges after he allegedly reported a car he wrecked as stolen.

Damien Heith Firman, 25, of the 100 block of Holly Crescent Drive, Grandy, was arrested June 13 by the N.C. Department of Insurance and charged with one count of obtaining property by false pretense. A $10,000 unsecured bond was set.

According to an Insurance Department press release, Firman was involved in a wreck on Dec. 4, 2007, in Newport News, Va. The accident occurred, the release states, while Firman was racing another vehicle and while he was under the influence of alcohol. Following the wreck, Firman left the scene of the accident, the release states.

The next day, Firman filed a false police report with the Newport News Police stating his car had been stolen, according to the release. Police notified him the next day that his car had been found and he filed a claim for nearly $10,000 with his insurance company.

Though the company paid the claim, a case was opened because both police and insurance officials had suspicions, the release states. Police said Firman walked with an obvious limp when he came to retrieve his car.

The Currituck County Sheriff's Office assisted with Firman's arrest, the release states.