A woman recently reported to police that she had been bilked out of several hundred dollars from people representing themselves as being from the government and wanting to reward her with almost ten grand for being a good citizen.

According to a police report, an officer spoke with a woman at police headquarters who told him that she was contacted via telephone by two people who identified themselves as “Robert Nikki” and “Alex Cooper.” The pair claimed to be with the United States government and that they wanted to give her $9,800 because she was “an upstanding citizen and has never been in trouble.”

However, the cost of doing business initially was $250 worth of “Steam” gift card codes that she purchased and provided the codes over the phone to the men. The men, who the victim told police spoke with Indian accents, then told the victim that they needed an additional $699 so they could finish the transaction and asked for the woman’s debit card number, which she provided.

The report states that the victim got suspicious of the men’s activities as the conversation went on. The woman told police that she went to her bank and canceled her debit card. However, the woman was out $250 that she paid for the gift cards.

The report states that police told the woman to be more careful in the future and to call police if she had any similar offers over the phone.

_ A man who walked out of an area hospital last week after being taken into custody on numerous outstanding warrants was once again taken into custody.

According to a police report, Jeremy Hardeman  was taken into custody by officers as he was sitting in the passenger seat of a car in the drive-thru at McDonald’s, on Friday. While processing paperwork at the police department, Hardeman began complaining of chest pains, the report states. Hardeman has multiple health issues including severe gangrene.

Hardeman was taken to Parkridge East to be checked out for his chest pains. While he was being checked out, staff unwrapped his feet and saw they were gangrenous. Hospital staff advised that the man needed to be admitted to the hospital and transferred to Parkridge’s main campus in Chattanooga. Hospital staff told police that Hardeman wold be in the hospital there for a minimum of two or three days, facing amputation of both feet. 

The report states that officers contacted their superiors at ERPD to determine if an officer would stay with the man “due to how many warrants he has out of three different agencies.” It was determined that East Ridge does not have the manpower during his stay at the hospital and to release him from custody.

The report states that due to Hardeman walking away from Memorial Hospital after having been taken into custody on March 14, officers stayed at Parkridge East until he was transported to the main campus in Chattanooga. 

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