Sheriff report: Worland couple burned by Facebook Marketplace scam

The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office received the following calls for the week of May 19-25:

May 19: 12:04 a.m. – A caller reported that his son’s car slid off the road on Lane 13 east of Lovell, and when a friend tried to pull him out, a stop sign was damaged. The caller said his son and the stop sign were fine, but the vehicle, an SUV, was stuck, but he would come and get the vehicle later that morning.

6:53 p.m. – The Lovell Police Department advised the Sheriff’s Office of a traffic complaint concerning a maroon corvette driving erratically coming in from Powell. A deputy never spotted the vehicle.

May 20: 12:30 p.m. – A woman from Worland called to say she and her husband had found a lawnmower for sale on Facebook Marketplace, and after sending the payment, they attempted to pick up their purchase on North Big Horn Avenue in Byron. However, at the address claimed in the Facebook post there was only a house that had been unoccupied for a couple of years, resulting in a scam and a loss of money.

2:18 p.m. – A case of fraud was uncovered on Lane 12 near Lovell when a party reported that someone had printed checks based on a Lovell resident’s checking account and had started trying to use them. However, a bank stopped processing when suspicion was drawn to a check for $50,000, which was not processed by the bank.

May 22: 8:53 a.m. – Cows found loose alongside U.S. 310 north of Frannie drifted into Montana, so the Montana Highway Patrol was notified.

9:44 a.m. – A report of horses out on Road 5 near Cowley was referred to a brand inspector.

1:51 p.m. – A resident of Byron reported that his neighbor’s dog was continuing to defecate in his yard. A deputy made contact with the dog owner, who said she would keep a better eye on her dog.

May 23: 8:58 a.m. A caller expressed concern about animals at his neighbor’s place on East First North in Cowley, stating that there were many dogs tied up outside and numerous cats around the house. A deputy responded and said all of the dogs were in the house and no cats were visible.

12:21 p.m. – Cowley residents reported that a dog was continually getting loose on Center Street in Byron and following people on their walks. A deputy spoke to the dog owner, who was directed to keep the dog in the yard or be cited for dog at large and to obtain town tags.

6:43 p.m. – Cows were reported out on Road 5 south of the Byron Cemetery, but when a deputy arrived, someone was already at the site “putting them away.”

7:48 p.m. – A caller was concerned about the safety of children on East 7^th in Cowley, saying kids younger than 12 were riding a blue four-wheeler and wearing no helmets. A deputy responded and also provided information to the Cowley Police officer.

9:54 p.m. – A caller reported that she had nearly hit a black cow walking in the westbound lane of U.S. 310 to the west of Cowley. Dispatch notified the highway patrol.

May 24: 1:51 p.m. – The Lovell Police Department notified the Sheriff’s Office about a call stating that the reporting party saw a white van with blue lettering on McKinley Avenue and a child in the passenger seat leaning across and repeatedly honking the horn with the caller expressing “a bad feeling about it.” A deputy was unable to locate the van.

2:10 p.m. – A report was called in about a truck and trailer hauling pipe colliding with another vehicle with damage sustained by both vehicles. The crash was referred to the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

May 25: 11:04 a.m. – A caller reported a missing male, 4-year-old blue heeler lost between Cowley and Powell the previous Thursday night.

Note: The above calls were received by the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office. Persons arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and charges made upon initial arrest may be amended or dismissed as determined by the County Attorney.