Phone scam victim threatened with death

The woman said a man identifying himself as James Taylor called to advise that she had won $250,000 and a brand new Mercedes. Taylor said in order to claim the prize and get the paperwork for the vehicle, the woman needed to wire $250 via Western Union to a man by the name of Delron Morris.

When the woman informed Taylor that she did not have $250, he offered to let her pay by credit card. When the woman advised that she did not have a credit card, Taylor said he would send her $200 via Western Union which she could then return to him with an additional $50 payment to get the paperwork started.

Taylor sent the woman $200. Instead of sending $250 to Taylor, the woman simply deposited the $200 into her account.

According to the police report, Taylor became upset when the woman did not send the $250 and “was no longer the nice, caring man she had dealt with earlier in the week.”

Taylor left several messages on the woman’s cell phone in which he threatened to kill the woman and her entire family. He also warned that he had planted a bomb on her car and would push the button if she did not wire the $250.

Taylor’s calls originated from a Jamaica phone number. The case is listed as inactive.

Other recent incidents investigated by Winder Police include:

•theft by taking on Second Street. A woman said her cell phone was stolen during the course of a recent move. The woman suspects the two males that helped her move are responsible for the theft of her phone.

•deceased person on Embassy Drive. Police were called to a residence after a 57-year-old man suffering from lung cancer was found unresponsive. Attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful.

•criminal trespass on Saint Ives Circle. A woman reported that an unidentified subject attempted to make entry into her home. The attempt damaged the weather stripping on the door and caused two small cracks in the door frame.

•simple assault on N. Broad Street. A man was barred from Barrow Regional Medical Center after being verbally abusive towards a staff member.

•entering auto on North Center Street. A radio was stolen out of an unlocked vehicle.

•entering auto on Walker Street. A GPS unit and a Vera Bradley change purse were stolen out of an unlocked vehicle.

•burglary on Dreamland Court. A woman’s home was burglarized while she was at work. The only item reported missing was a Ryobi drill which was recovered outside the residence. The homeowner advised the burglar had taken time to use the toilet which was clogged with toilet paper and feces as a result.

•no insurance on West Midland Avenue. An officer stopped a vehicle after noticing the tag was expired. During the traffic stop, the officer also determined the vehicle was uninsured and impounded it.

•verbal dispute on Atlanta Avenue. A man said his twin brother threatened him with an ax during a dispute over money. The twin said his brother threatened him. Due to the conflicting statements, no charges were filed.

•disorderly conduct on North Broad Street. A preschool teacher allegedly threatened to call DFACS if her employer did not pay her for the time she spent bringing her personal items into her former classroom. A week later DFACS arrived at the preschool in response to an anonymous tip that the water in the building did not work properly.

•theft by taking on Paden Drive. A bush hog was reported stolen.

•lost or mislaid property on Brad Akins Drive. A man inadvertently left his clothing and his wallet on the back of his vehicle when leaving the YMCA. Once he realized what he had done, he retraced his route in an attempt to locate his belongings but was unsuccessful. The wallet contained his driver’s license, social security card, Medicaid card and $60 in cash.

•entering auto on East Wright Street. Four 22” chrome wheels were removed from a 1995 Lexus LS 400. The door handle to the vehicle and the trunk release were broken, but no items were removed from the interior of the vehicle.

•burglary on West Athens Street. A pressure washer valued at $300 was reported stolen.

•damage to property on South Broad Street. A woman said she was pulling into a parking spot when her foot slipped off the brake and hit the accelerator causing her to crash into the side of a building. There were no injuries.

•criminal entry to a building on Turtle Creek Drive. A man was found sleeping in a vacant residence. The woman in charge of the property said no one was supposed to be staying in the building despite the man’s claims to the contrary.

•entering auto on McNeal Road. A stereo system was stolen out of an unlocked vehicle.

•identity theft on N. Broad Street. A man realized his driver’s license had been stolen when he received a notice advising his license would be suspended if he did not pay a citation he received from the City of Atlanta Police Department. The man said he had never been pulled over in Atlanta nor received a citation.

•lost or mislaid property on Baskins Circle. A woman accidentally left her purse on the back of her car before leaving home. Attempts to locate the purse were unsuccessful. The purse contained her driver’s license, credit cards, debit cards, blank checks and $410.