Texas County deputies investigate disputes

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

•On Oct. 15, deputies were dispatched regarding a report of an altercation between two men at a Suzan Drive residence at Bucyrus. One of the men had reportedly called 911 and stated the other man was at his residence and had threatened to burn it down.

Upon arrival, an officer made contact with a 43-year-old man and his 69-year-old mother, who is a co-owner of the property. The man told the officer he hadn’t made any threats about physical harm or property damage.

The man told the deputy he was angry at the other man because he and a woman had added their names to the deed to the house, and were taking advantage of the mother. He also said the other man and the woman had taken the toilet from the house and would not let the mother use electricity, and that they had broken all the water and sewer pipes at a spot where the mother had planned to move her small home.

The deputy spoke with the mother and advised her about the possibility of getting a protection order against the pair, and she said she was going to do so.

The mother reportedly had a new electric meter set at the property, but she didn’t have running water or a way to use the bathroom.

A report was sent to the county prosecutor.

•On Oct. 3, a deputy was dispatched regarding reports of screaming on U.S. 63 south of Houston.

A Cabool police officer had also contacted dispatch and indicated there was a man on the side of the roadway walking north toward Houston who appeared to be yelling and waving at passing cars.

The deputy observed the man and made contact with him, and immediately smelled a strong odor of alcohol.

The man refused to provide identification and was detained. The deputy then located the man’s identification and a computer check revealed he had an active Texas County warrant for driving while intoxicated. The man (from Arkansas) was arrested and taken to jail.

•On Oct. 8, a 42-year-old man came to the TCSD office to report that his 33-year-old wife had attempted to refinance their vehicle and had electronically forged his signature.

The man told a deputy that the refinance paperwork had been submitted Sept. 4, and that he didn’t sign anything or agree to it. He said he had contacted the finance company (in Atlanta, Georgia) and advised them of the situation.

The officer contacted the finance company involved and a representative there reportedly said they had no record of the man calling regarding forgery or fraud.

The officer reported that the man had filed a similar complaint once before, and that the wife has both times denied signing the man’s name to any documents or checks.

Investigation is ongoing.

•On Oct. 8, a 57-year-old Houston man came to the TCSD office and turned in a $20 bill he said was counterfeit.

The man told a deputy he had used a security marker on the bill and found it was fake.

The officer took the bill to a local bank where a staff member checked it out and determined the bill was real. The officer was advised that some of the pens used to check bills are not very reliable.

The man was contacted and advised of the situation, and told he could stop by and pick up his money.