An Oklahoma homeowner who says he paid thousands of dollars for a storm shelter that was never completed decided to take an unusual approach after weeks of excuses: he called the contractor back, pretended he wanted more work done, and waited for deputies to arrive.
KOCO 5 News reporter Olivia Hickey said Grady County homeowner Dylan Teachman paid CM Concrete Construction $9,300 in cash for an above-ground storm shelter with a custom door, hoping to give his family a safer place to go during severe weather. Instead, Teachman said the contractor, 29-year-old Colton Marek, did little more than disturb part of his yard before disappearing from the job.
Marek is accused in multiple cases involving money taken for construction work that was allegedly never completed, and the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office confirmed to Hickey that it is also looking into a complaint involving him.
A $9,300 Storm Shelter Job Went Nowhere
Teachman told Hickey that he contacted CM Concrete Construction in April because he and his family wanted an above-ground shelter, particularly now that they have a 9-month-old baby.
“We want to keep him safe and not have to run from storms anymore,” Teachman said.
Marek came to the property, looked over the job and gave Teachman a quote in the driveway.
Teachman said he handed over $9,300 in cash on the spot so work could begin.
According to his account, Marek later returned and dug up part of the yard, but that was essentially where the project stopped.
“He came out and dug up my yard a little bit, and made a mess and never came back out,” Teachman told KOCO.
Teachman said he repeatedly tried contacting Marek and received excuses about why the work was not continuing.
The situation was especially frustrating because the project was not a cosmetic upgrade or an optional home improvement. Teachman said the shelter was meant to protect his family during storms, which made watching the job stall after such a large upfront payment even harder to accept.
Teachman Set A Trap To Get Him Back
After several weeks without progress, Teachman decided to see whether Marek would return if he believed there was more money to be made.
He called again and said he wanted to add concrete work to his back patio.
This time, Marek responded.
“He fell for it,” Teachman said.
According to Teachman, Marek came back to the property on a Thursday evening believing they were going to discuss additional work, but the Grady County Sheriff’s Department was already prepared to move in.
Teachman said Marek had an outstanding arrest warrant at the time connected to a previous embezzlement case.
The arrest was captured on camera.
It is an unusual example of a homeowner turning frustration into a practical way of getting an accused contractor back within reach of law enforcement, although most consumers should obviously avoid attempting confrontations of their own and instead coordinate with police when criminal allegations are involved.
In Teachman’s case, the tactic worked because deputies were already involved and ready to make the arrest.
Court Records Describe Similar Allegations
Hickey reported that Teachman was not the only person accusing Marek of taking upfront construction money without completing the promised work.
Court documents describe a Blanchard woman who hired Marek to build a shop on her property.
According to those records, Marek quoted the job at $10,000 and allegedly told the woman he needed $8,500 upfront for materials.
The documents say one load of sand was eventually delivered, but no other materials arrived and the shop was never completed.
Another Grady County resident made a similar complaint involving a driveway and tin horn installation project.
Court records say that customer was asked to pay $3,500 upfront for materials, but no materials were delivered and no work was completed.
Those allegations have not been proven simply because they appear in court filings, and Marek is entitled to the legal process as the cases move forward.
Still, Hickey’s report shows why state consumer protection officials say repeated requests for large advance payments should immediately make customers more cautious.
Attorney General’s Office Says This Happens Often
Stephanie Powers, deputy attorney general for consumer protection, told KOCO that complaints involving contractors taking money without finishing jobs are unfortunately familiar.
“Unfortunately, we see this a lot,” Powers said.
She said the problem is particularly common in areas such as roofing, remodeling and smaller construction jobs, where homeowners may feel pressure to pay quickly so materials can be purchased and work can begin.
The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office confirmed to Hickey that it was reviewing a complaint involving Marek, although officials said they could not discuss the specifics of that matter.
Powers urged consumers to research contractors before handing over money.
She recommended checking the contractor’s name through the Oklahoma State Courts Network, contacting the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit and keeping detailed records of contracts, payments, messages and promises.
That documentation can become extremely important later if a disagreement turns into a civil claim or criminal investigation.
Large Upfront Payments Should Raise Questions
Powers also singled out large advance payments as one of the clearest warning signs.
“You really want to go with a company, a business, that is fluid enough that they can pay for their own materials upfront,” she said.
In Teachman’s case, Powers said asking for roughly $9,000 before substantial work had begun was a significant red flag.
Not every contractor who requests a deposit is doing something improper, and construction projects often require some payment before work starts. The concern is the size of the payment, the reason being given for it and whether the business appears financially stable enough to operate without relying almost entirely on a customer’s cash.
For homeowners, that makes basic due diligence especially important before a large sum changes hands.
A low bid or fast promise can be appealing, but checking court records, references, written contracts and payment terms can save far more trouble than trying to recover thousands of dollars after the work stops.
Marek Faces A Longer Court Battle
KOCO tried to reach Marek by going to an address connected to him and CM Concrete Construction, but nobody answered the door.
Hickey reported that Marek is due back in court in September on multiple embezzlement charges.
The Attorney General’s Office is encouraging other consumers who believe they have complaints to come forward, saying those reports can help officials determine whether civil or criminal action is appropriate.
Teachman, meanwhile, is still left with the unfinished project and the money he says he paid for a shelter that never materialized.
His decision to lure Marek back by pretending to offer more work may have produced a memorable arrest. Still, the larger lesson in Hickey’s report is far less dramatic: homeowners should investigate contractors carefully before making large payments. They should be particularly cautious when a business asks for most of the money before meaningful work has begun.
For Teachman, that lesson came after $9,300 had already left his hands. The next time Marek returned to the property, however, he was not arriving for another construction job.
Raised in a small Arizona town, Kevin grew up surrounded by rugged desert landscapes and a family of hunters. His background in competitive shooting and firearms training has made him an authority on self-defense and gun safety. A certified firearms instructor, Kevin teaches others how to properly handle and maintain their weapons, whether for hunting, home defense, or survival situations. His writing focuses on responsible gun ownership, marksmanship, and the role of firearms in personal preparedness.
