Electronic sign damage: Loss estimated at $17,000

The following are excerpts from just some of the reports recently generated by the Texas County Sheriff’s Department:

•On Sept. 29, a Texas County jailer reported that a male inmate was in possession of a piece of metal missing from a mop in Wing 1.

An investigating deputy determined that the inmate, a 33-year-old Raymondville man, had an object that was a toothbrush with a sharpened piece of metal attached to it. There were also reportedly two other pieces of metal removed from the mop.

A probable cause statement was sent to the county prosecutor.

•A deputy was dispatched Sept. 29 regarding a report of a stolen calf at a Brown Road property at Elk Creek. A Cabool man is a suspect and investigation is ongoing.

•On Oct. 2, a deputy was dispatched to the Hutchason Cemetery regarding a report of an abandoned vehicle that had been there for more than 40 hours.

Upon arrival, the officer observed a maroon Dodge Journey filled with various items.

A 42-year-old Licking woman was identified as the car’s owner. She was contacted and said she would retrieve the car that day.

•On Sept. 26, a man representing a contracting firm working for the Missouri Department of Transportation on a bridge construction project on Highway 137 in the Clear Springs area reported that an electronic changeable message sign had been damaged and was no longer functioning.

The man said a pumpkin was lying next to the sign and had apparently been thrown at it. The estimated cost of the damage was $17,000.

There are no suspects.

•On Sept. 20, a deputy was dispatched regarding a report of vehicle theft at a Nodaway Drive residence at Plato.

The officer made contact with a 39-year-old woman there who said her 42-year-old former boyfriend had taken her black 2005 Ford Explorer without permission and wouldn’t return it.

Officers located the vehicle being driven by a 67-year-old Roby man on Success Road. The man said the suspect had let him borrow the vehicle.

The suspect is still being sought. A probable cause statement was sent to the county prosecutor seeking a charge against him.