Deputy’s report: Over $154,000 allegedly sent through dating app

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

• Tim Mardis, 60, of Malberg Road at Elk Creek, was issued a citation for operating a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner on July 30.

A deputy wrote the ticket after he was allegedly following a woman very closely in his truck on Malberg Road and then accelerated and passed her on U.S. 63 in a section marked by a double yellow line. The woman reportedly provided video of Mardis passing in the no-passing zone.

Mardis reportedly told the officer it wasn’t him driving the truck, and the officer advised him he would have to bring that up in traffic court.

• On Aug. 18, a deputy responded to a report of a dispute between a 51-year-old Licking man and a 47-year-old neighbor man.

The younger man told the officer the other man has an easement through his property and had dumped loads of gravel on the easement, taking away from his hay field. The man said he contacted the neighbor, but the neighbor became angry. The man said he heard three or four gunshots as he drove away.

The officer contacted the neighbor, who denied firing a gun. He told the deputy he knows it’s his responsibility to maintain the easement, and he was doing just that.

The deputy advised both men the easement matter was civil, and they should contact their attorneys.

• On Aug. 21, a deputy responded to a report of property damage at a Wright Lane residence near Cabool.

A 27-year-old man there told the officer two tires on a truck on the property were flat and appeared to have been slashed. The man told the officer the man who is his landlord might be to blame.

Investigation is ongoing.

• On Aug. 21, a 51-year-old man reported his boat, motor and trailer had been stolen from a Kimbel Road property near Licking.

The man told an investigating deputy a hitch lock had been on the trailer, but it had been cut off. The total value of stolen items was $12,000.

Investigation is ongoing.

• On July 9, a 49-year-old Summersville woman reported being scammed.

The woman told a deputy she had met a man on the dating app, “Tinder,” and had discussed investing in cryptocurrency with him. She said she had sent the man more than $154,000, but he had deleted his Tinder account, and she no longer had a way to contact him.

The deputy reported the case to the FBI.