Sheriff Ronnie Crockett this week issued an alert advising citizens to beware of telephone callers claiming to be grandchildren, nieces or nephews who have been arrested and need bail money or have been in a traffic accident and need money to avoid insurance claims.

These calls are fraudulent, said Sheriff Crockett.  The callers, who use prepaid cellular telephones that cannot be traced and that often block incoming calls, rely on the emotions of the victim who think a family member is in trouble. 

The callers typically say that $2,500 or more is needed immediately, and want the victim to use a credit card or bank card to facilitate the transfer of funds quickly. 

Recently, one victim sent more than $25,000 in a similar fraud, said Sheriff Crockett.

Protect yourself, he said. If you get a call such as this, do not send any money, do not give out any credit card, bank card or bank account information. Instead, contact a trusted person for help to decide if the call is legitimate.

All law enforcement agencies across the country receive reports of this type of fraud on a regular basis, and are unable to track down the fraud artists to recover any money. 

Lancaster County Sheriff Ronnie Crockett this week reported charges against six individuals.

Felonies

Elston R. Haley, 56, of Heathsville was charged January 26 with two counts of manufacture/sale of narcotics (two felonies) and (misdemeanor) possession of narcotics.

Misdemeanors

 A Kilmarnock area man, 36, was charged January 25 with contempt of court.

A Farnham man, 46, was charged January 25 with violation of a protective order.

A Lively area man was charged January 26 with following too closely and improper passing in a Westmoreland County case.

A Burnt Wharf Road woman, 56, was charged January 26 with drunk driving and reckless driving.

A Farnham area woman, 32, was charged January 30 with issuing a bad check. 

Activity report

Jan. 23:  Staff responded with child protective services from the Deptartment of Social Services to a child neglect complaint on Carlson Road. 

Jan. 24:  Staff checked on the well-being of a Keep Safe program participant after prearranged telephone contact could not be made (no emergency services needed), checked on the well-being of a Windmill Point Road resident at the request of a concerned out-of-town family member (no emergency services needed) and responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Oak Farm Road. 

Jan. 25:  Staff checked on the well-being of an Arrowhead Drive resident at the request of a concerned citizen (no emergency services needed), responded to a larceny complaint on Nuttsville Road (unfounded complaint), responded with the Kilmarnock Police Department (KPD) to a fight call at the Lancaster Square shopping center (domestic disturbance) and responded with child protective services from the Department of Social Services to a child abuse complaint on Morattico Road. Staff responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint in the area of Corrotoman By The Bay and to a juvenile behavioral complaint on Thrasher Court and checked on the well-being of a River Bluff Road resident at the request of Rappahannock General Hospital staff (no emergency services needed).

Jan. 26:   Staff responded to a hunting complaint in the area of Pine Place, to the Shore Drive area on a man with a gun complaint (homeowner’s complaint involved cropland spraying), to a shots fired complaint in the area of Mockingbird Lane (target shooting nearby), and with KPD to a fight call at Walmart. Staff  notified the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) of a downed tree limb and large animal carcass being a traffic hazard near River Road and Belmont Drive, received a counterfeit money report ($20 loss), and intercepted a reported drunk driver in the 6700 block of Mary Ball Road.

Jan. 27:  Staff discovered an unlocked door to a North Main Street business during routine late night building checks (no burglary involved), responded with Virginia State Police (VSP) to a single-vehicle traffic crash on Christ Church Road, to a single-vehicle traffic crash at River and White Chapel roads, to a suspicious person complaint on Sage Hill Road (legitimate person walking in the area), to a single-vehicle traffic crash at Mary Ball and Old Salem roads, and to a disorderly conduct complaint in the 10400 block of Jessie duPont Highway (intoxicated subject was refused service at a restaurant). 

Jan. 28 : Staff responded with VSP to a report of gunfire on Kathy Drive, to a destruction of property complaint on Oak Hill Road, to a shots fired complaint in the Palmer area, to a possible burglary on Middle Road (no criminal incident involved) and to a fight call in the 1000 block of Beanes Road (subject gone on arrival). Staff notified the game warden of a boater in distress as reported by a Western Branch Road resident and received a walk-in complaint of a verbal dispute that happened on North Main Street.

Jan. 29:  Staff responded to the local emergency room on a report of an assault victim seeking medical care, received a walk-in complaint from an Irvington area resident of the loss of Social Security and Medicare cards, and responded to Johns Neck Road on a larceny of a cellphone and bank card complaint. 

Jan. 30:  Staff responded to an animal control complaint on River Bluff Road, to a two-vehicle traffic crash at Mary Ball and Pinckardsville roads, and to an E911 disconnect call on Riverwood Drive (no emergency services needed). Staff received a larceny report from Pleasants Bank Road and a residential burglary report from Windjammer Lane. 

The sheriff’s staff also conducted 19 traffic stops, issued three summonses, assisted five motorists, handled eight calls for traffic control, investigated four building alarms, logged eight inmate transports and fielded one call for animal control service.

Fire calls

The White Stone Volunteer Fire Department responded to a traffic crash on Christ Church Road and another one at Mary Ball and Old Salem roads.

Northumberland County Sheriff Charles A. Wilkins this week reported charges against four individuals.

Felonies

Kirk Lamont Lampkin, 37, of Burgess was charged January 29 with malicious assault of a family member.

Misdemeanors

A Heathsville man, 18, was charged January 23 with assault and battery of a family member.

A Reedville man, 52, was charged January 24 with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.

A Weems man, 25, was charged January 28 with appearing intoxicated in public.