Better Business Bureau serving Central & Eastern is warning the public of a jury duty phone scam that tricked a Fayette County woman into paying a $500 “fine” for allegedly missing jury duty.

The woman tells the BBB she received a phone call at home Tuesday night from a man identifying himself as an “officer” with the Fayette County Warrant Division. He told her she had failed to appear for jury duty and was in contempt of court. He told her she must pay a fine over the phone to avoid being arrested immediately.

http://liarcatchers.com/fraud_investigation.html

He instructed the woman to go obtain a Greendot Money Pak card at a local store, load it with $499 and give him the numbers over the phone. He then advised her of a date she could appear in court before the judge to get the fine “returned” to her and the charges dismissed. He said this was due to “special privileges” she had because she has a clean record.

“This is a known phone scam around the country,” said Heather Clary, BBB Director of Communications. “Court and law enforcement officials have said they do NOT call people on the phone to warn of court charges and demanding payment of fines. Since this woman has paid with a Greendot Money Pak card, she has no recourse for getting her money back.”

The number the victim was given to call had an 859 area code, which she says made it seem “legitimate” to her. Citizens who receive a call like this should NOT answer any questions and hang up. If uncertain about whether summons for jury duty has been missed in district, circuit or federal court, contact the court in your area at the phone numbers found in the government section of the telephone directory. Citizens may also report the scam to the Better Business Bureau at (859) 259-1008.

Arson investigators said a fire that severely injured a Whitley City firefighter, ultimately costing his life, has been ruled arson.

Arson Investigator Detective Brian Lewis said the fire from Aug. 30, 2013, on Water Plant Road in the Stearns community of McCreary County, was intentionally set.

http://liarcatchers.com/arson_investigation.html

Whitley City firefighter Arlie “Pooh” Hill III, 37, of Stearns was severely injured in the fire after going into the burning house to see if anyone was inside.

Lieutenant Hill died nearly two months later as a result of the injuries he sustained in the fire.

KSP says Detective Lewis is still following up on leads.

Anyone with any information in reference to this investigation is asked to contact the Kentucky State Police.

FEATURED FUGITIVE: Alan Gay is this week’s featured fugitive. He is wanted on charges of theft, fleeing or evading police, resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and trespassing. Police say Gay tried to steal two 12 packs of beer from a Speedway on North Broadway on March 5. He fled from police before getting caught on a nearby side street. Drug paraphernalia was found in his coat, police said. Name: Alan Gay; Age: 40; Sex: M; Race: Black; Height: 5’8; Weight: 220

Additional individuals and information can be found at http://www.kentucky.com/2014/03/25/3160506/lexingtons-most-wanted-march-26.html?sp=/99/164/1052/1296/

A Louisville woman charged in a murder for hire plot has taken a plea deal.

Elizabeth Stakelbeck pleaded guilty to solicitation to murder and two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance.

She admitted trying to hire a hit man to kill her ex-husband and his wife.

http://liarcatchers.com/contact.php

Investigators said she didn’t know the hit man was actually an undercover FBI agent.

Officials said Stakelbeck was recorded offering the agent pills, cash and even sexual favors.

The plea agreement includes a 15-year prison sentence. She will be formally sentenced in May.

The deputy found several bundles of black tar heroin and $9,000 in cash in the car, Myers said.

The driver, Jaime Valenzuela-Buelna, 49, of Mexico, was arrested on complaints of aggravated heroin trafficking and possession of illegal drug proceeds.

The deputy is a member of the Central Oklahoma Metro Interdiction Team, a multi-agency unit operating under an agreement between the Oklahoma County district attorney’s office, Oklahoma City Police Department and the sheriff’s office.

Thor helped law officers find 34 pounds of methamphetamine in a traffic stop Feb. 27 in Oklahoma City. Four people were arrested in that incident, Myers said.

“He’s been a good dog,” Myers said.

Frankfort Police are hoping the public will help them identify a man who they say held a church member at gunpoint after Sunday service.

Whoever tried to rob the First Baptist Church was not feeling Christian-like last Sunday when they pulled a gun on a man inside the church.

Police say the suspect went to the church on Clinton Street around 3:30 p.m. and knocked on the door alleging he may have lost his cell phone inside.

http://liarcatchers.com/contact.php

A member of the church who was doing some work in his office helped the man search, but they couldn’t find the phone and the man left.

15 minutes later, the member says that same man was standing in the doorway, pointing a gun at him and asking him to open a safe.

Turns out, there was no money in the safe and the suspect ran out empty handed.

Police hope surveillance video from the surrounding neighborhood will help lead to more information. If you have any information, give police a call.

UK HealthCare is notifying more than 1,000 patients about a breach of protected health information.

Officials say someone stole a password protected lap-top owned by a business partner of the hospital. They say that laptop contains confidential information about current and former patients.

http://liarcatchers.com/identity_theft_investigation.html

Officials say the information could still be intact, but they are erring on the side of caution. They are notifying the people with personal information that might have been compromised.

UK HealthCare also placed an ad in the classified section of the newspaper to let people know about the missing laptop.

The Belton Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in located a missing person.

Shane Swaggart was reported missing by family on Sunday, March 23 after posting comments that were of concern to them. Shane is 5’9” approximately 160 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. No clothing description is available and Swaggart does not own a vehicle.

http://liarcatchers.com/missing_persons_investigations.html

He may be visiting areas with free wi-fi as this is his only way to communicate on a mobile device. If you see Shane or have information as to his whereabouts, please contact the Belton Police Department at 816-331-1500 or the TIPS hotline at (816) 474-TIPS.

A middle school teacher has been charged in a sexual assault case involving a 15-year-old student that took place on a Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District campus in November 2013.

Corrie Anne Long, 43, who served as a math teacher at Hopper Middle School, was charged with sexual assault of a child, a felony offense.

http://liarcatchers.com/pedophile_tracking.html

A Cy-Fair ISD officer said in a court document that the assault took place on Nov. 15, 2013 on the Hopper Middle School campus before the students were dismissed for the Thanksgiving week break.

The student at the center of the case told Children’s Assessment Center forensic interviewer on Feb. 19 that Long would arrange for the boy to be excused from one of his classes and would then perform oral sex on him in her classroom. The boy also told the interviewer that Long told him not to tell anyone about the incident because she would lose her job.

The principal of the school, Wendi Witthaus, was first alerted about the incident on Feb. 11 when another student told her about odd behavior between Long and the boy.

Long was placed in jail and posted $30,000 bond.