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In The News: Handy Man, Burger King, Investigators, Scam Artist

Police look for man they say scammed people on fix-it-up jobs

Lafayette police are looking for a man they believe is conning local people into paying up front for home repairs that he never performs.An arrest warrant has been issued for John Harold Calais, 43, of Breaux Bridge, alleging misapplicaton of payments by a contractor.

The Lafayette Police Department said Calais goes door to door, leaving fliers to solicit house washing and minor carpentry jobs. He asks for a down payment to purchase materials and then doesn’t return to the work, police said.

Use a credit card recently at Burger King on Washtenaw Avenue? Police want to talk to you

If you recently used a credit card at the Burger King drive-thru in Pittsfield Township and noticed unexpected charges, police want to talk to you.

Pittsfield Township police are investigating an Ypsilanti man for allegedly skimming money from customers who paid for their meals using a credit card at the Burger King at 4885 Washtenaw Ave., said Detective Lt. Steve Heller.

Managers at the restaurant discovered the suspicious activity earlier this month and fired the employee, Heller said. But they don’t have a record of who was scammed and can’t press charges unless customers come forward.

Men wanted for fraud

Two men posing as Williamsburg County Sheriff’s investigators scammed a Hemingway woman out of $45,000 and Lake City Police are looking for the suspects.
Lake City Police Chief Billy Brown said the two men went to the victims home in the Hemingway area and claimed they were investigating a counterfeit sting.
On March 17, the incident report said the men told the woman they should place handcuffs on her because they money they recovered from the “guys” was counterfeit.

Guilty plea due in ring, car theft

Larry J. Hopkins sat handcuffed, wearing a faded yellow jumpsuit with the word “inmate” printed on the back Monday as he waived his right to a preliminary hearing. He said he intends to plead guilty to charges he stole a luxury car and a diamond ring last month.

Through his public defender, Christina King, Hopkins, 52, said he will accept a county jail term of 111/2 to 23 months in the Bucks County Jail and consecutive probations. The terms of the probation will be set by a county judge during his scheduled arraignment May 23. However, King said she expects Hopkins to enter an early guilty plea.

“He’s a scam artist,” said Gary Gambardella, chief of special investigations for the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, outside the courtroom.