Scam suspect surrenders to Bail Bondsman after chase in Tennessee

Scam suspect surrenders to Bail Bondsman after chase in Tennessee

VIA the Times Gazette

By DAVID MELSON
A man suspected by police of scamming thousands of dollars from elderly Middle Tennessee residents was taken into custody after a high-speed chase Friday.

Allen Ray Harris, 33, walked out of woods near Chapel Hill to a waiting bail bondsman following a three-hour search by officers, Detective Sgt. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department said.

Harris has no fixed address and has been “floating from motel to motel across Middle Tennessee,” Crews said.

The chase resulted when detectives “lured” Harris to Bedford County, according to Crews.

“Last Thursday we received knowledge in reference to a guy going around Middle Tennessee taking advantage of the elderly claiming to do home repairs,” Crews said. “We came across a lady in Shelbyville who had been scammed.”

Detectives were unsuccessful in attempts to meet Harris within Shelbyville.

“We tried to lure him into Shelbyville but the closest we could get him was the Marathon market in Unionville,” Crews said. “We planned to serve him with warrants from Rutherford and Wilson counties.”

Harris sped off when he realized he was talking to police officers, heading north on U.S. 41A North at speeds of 85 to 100 mph.

“We tried to block him on Clardy Road where there’s only one way out,” Crews said. “He rammed Pat (Detective Lt. Pat Mathis) when he tried to block him and rammed Chucky (Detective Charles Merlo). We chased him to Highway 99 where he pulled over near Chapel Hill and fled on foot into a wooded area with heavy foliage.”

Harris remained in the woods for three hours as officers from the Bedford, Rutherford, Marshall and Lincoln County sheriff’s departments and Eagleville police scoured and surrounded the area. Bedford County’s police dog was brought in to help search.

“Phone contact was made with him through a federal agent and he came out of the woods and surrendered to a bondsman,” Crews said.

Harris has been charged with fraudulent use of a credit card and driving on a revoked license, police said.

Detectives said they knew of at least two individuals they say were victimized by Harris.

One woman was told bracing was needed under her home’s metal roof, Crews said, and both victims lost an estimated $10,000-15,000 each. Harris did little if any actual work, according to detectives.

Police are asking anyone who has had contact with Harris to contact them at 684-5811.

Cumberland Co. Tennessee officials warn residents about bail bond scam

Story By: WBIR NEWS

Officials with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department are warning residents to be aware of a bail bond scam in their area.

According to a release, the scam made it to the Crossville area close to two weeks ago.

The scam starts when a law enforcement officer from another jurisdiction calls and tells you someone you know has been arrested on an outstanding warrant and needs help to make bond. The person on the phone then asks that a certain amount of money be wired to another country.

Officials say the callers will know personal information about you which they have found online.

According to Cumberland County Sheriff Butch Burgess, law enforcement officers will not call people and ask them to wire money. He urges those who receive these calls to contact the law enforcement agency to see if the person the caller has told you needs the money has been arrested.

Wanted man who shot bail bondsman arrested

FROM: The News Record of North Carolina

WINSTON-SALEM, NC — A man police said shot a bail bondsman in the foot Nov. 5 while trying to avoid being taken into custody has been arrested in Michigan.

Winston-Salem police said the U.S. Marshal Service received information Wednesday that Lamont Develle King, 26, of 104 Penner St. Apt. E, had traveled to Michigan. Federal agents found King in Detroit.

King was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and trafficking cocaine. His bond information was not immediately available.

According to police, Michael Todd Smith and two colleagues with Surety Bonding went to 104 Penner St. to locate a wanted suspect. At 1:25 a.m., Smith and the two other bondmen forced open the door.

Inside, police said someone fired several shots from a handgun at the bondsmen. The bondsmen returned fire as the suspect went back into the apartment.

Smith, 43, of Thomasville, suffered a gunshot wound to one of his feet.

The police department’s Special Enforcement Team later entered the apartment but could not find King.

King was listed as an absconder from probation supervision, according to the N.C. Department of Correction website.

King received 18 months of probation in August 2009 for misdemeanor assault on a female and misdemeanor communicating threats, according to the correction department.

Robber, victim exchange gunfire in shooting near downtown St. Louis

Robber, victim exchange gunfire in shooting near downtown St. Louis
click here for original article

ST. LOUIS — A man who fired back at a pair of suspected robbers Saturday night near downtown is recovering from multiple gunshot wounds.

According to police, the 52-year old man was leaving a home when two unidentified males approached him in the 700 Block of Carr Street, demanding money. One of the suspected robbers pulled a handgun, shooting the man at least three times in the chest, throat and mouth.

The victim was armed, and returned fire; however, he did not know whether he hit his mark.

The 8:30 p.m. shooting was in the city’s Columbus Square neighborhood, just blocks from the Edward Jones Dome.

KMOX-AM (1120) reports that the victim, who is in critical condition, is a bail bondsman.

St. Louis bail bondsman shot in robbery attempt

St. Louis bail bondsman shot in robbery attempt
original story to click here

ST. LOUIS (KMOX)__ A St. Louis bail bondsman is in critical condition after being shot during a robbery Saturday night.

Police say the 52-year-old victim was struck in the chest, back and side shortly before eight p.m. at his home in the 700 block of Carr.

The bondsman fired back but police don’t know if either suspect was hit.  The victim’s name has not been released.

3 NJ bills to help victims of domestic violence

Monday, October 18, 2010
 By KARINA L. ARRUE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
The Jersey Journal
click here for the original article

Three bills that aim to bolster protections for domestic violence victims cleared the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Thursday.

A-1491, sponsored by Assemblywoman Celeste Riley, D-Salem, imposes tougher bail restrictions on persons charged with violating domestic violence restraining orders.

At present, courts generally allow defendants who have violated domestic violence restraining orders to be released on bail after they post 10 percent of the amount of bail in cash. This bill would require defendants to post the full amount of the bail, either with cash, a surety bond, or bail bond.

And if the person is charged with a violation that constitutes a crime, their required bail would be upgraded to a minimum of $5,000. For a disorderly persons offense, the bail would be set at a minimum of $2,500.

“Given the emotional and physical trauma that victims have already been subjected to, they should be able to receive some measure of comfort knowing our laws do everything possible to protect their safety in the future,” Riley said.

A second bill, A-2258, sponsored by Assemblywoman L. Grace Spencer, D-Essex, would make evidence surrounding a domestic violence restraining order admissible and relevant to determining if use of force to protect oneself was justifiable by an individual protected by the order.

A-2891, sponsored by Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, D-Bergen, would allow victims of abuse to break a lease agreement and start anew without being penalized by future landlords.

The three bills now proceed to the full Assembly.

“I frankly think it’s a shame that we need to do laws like this but I’m really glad that we’re doing them,” Assemblywoman Joan Quigley, D-Hudson, said.

New Poll: Should defendants be released from jail with no financial assurance of appearing in court?

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