Police report: Fake law enforcement officer scam doesn’t fool Lovell man

The Lovell Police Department received the following calls for the week of December 15-21:

December 15: 3:19 a.m. – A citizen came to the police station seeking information on an incident that occurred four years ago. Information was provided.

6:09 a.m. – A caller on East Second Street reported hearing a coyote close to town near the railroad tracks on the north edge of town. An officer responded but could not hear or see anything.

9:13 a.m. – A sheriff’s deputy noticed and reported glass broken on a double-pane sliding door on Jersey Avenue. An officer contacted the homeowner and only one of the two panes was broken. There was no evidence of a projectile.

9:17 a.m. – A caller reported getting a call from someone saying he was a law enforcement officer and claiming he had the man’s daughter in custody. The man who received the call contacted the school and found his daughter safely in class, and when the scammer called back, he hung up on the fake officer. He called police to document the incident.

7:03 p.m. – A report was called in regarding a tall male wearing a cowboy hat threatening another individual in the parking lot at Family Dollar. When an officer interviewed the two individuals in the dispute, it was discovered that the man making the threats was wanted on a warrant out of Park County for failure to pay child support. Cesar Betancourt, 45, was arrested and transported to the Park County line.

7:18 p.m. – Two adult females got into a physical altercation outside the Cattlemen Motel. The two subjects were interviewed, and neither wished to press charges against the other.

December 16: 10:13 p.m. – An officer on routine patrol noticed activity at a home on Park Avenue that the officer knew was unoccupied due to a death. People were removing items from the home. The homeowner was contacted and said the individuals had permission to move the items.

December 17: 10:02 a.m. – A caller reported being stuck inside the car wash on West Main. The owner was contacted to free the car.

December 18: 3:14 p.m. – A caller reported coming across a counterfeit bill, then brought the fraudulent bill to the police station.

3:35 p.m. – An unregistered vehicle that had been parked at Minchow’s Service for a few days was towed.

7:19 p.m. – The driver of a 2007 black Chevy Colorado was northbound on Jersey when he reached down to scratch his leg and veered out of the lane, striking a 2013 Dodge Durango. Though the driver left the scene, a nearby security camera identified the vehicle, which was driven by a juvenile, who was then located.

8:50 p.m. – A couple who admitted getting physical during a domestic dispute were interviewed at their camper trailer south of the Travelodge. Neither party wished to pursue charges.

December 19: 7:34 a.m. – A vehicle with an expired registration parked on Oregon Avenue was tagged and later towed.

10:28 a.m. – A caller reported a black van with Florida plates parked at the Country Store on East Main for nearly two days. The caller, a store manager, called back to say that a staff member had given permission for the vehicle to be parked there. The van was reportedly going to leave the area later that day.

December 21: 12:22 p.m. – Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad called to say they were aware of a railroad crossing on Highway 37 near American Colloid/CETCO malfunctioning and that a repair crew was en route.