By John Howell
The Batesville Police Department’s blotter lists shoplifting arrests and scam investigations during the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Employees of Batesville’s Dollar General were able to stop a man who walked out of the store with a buggy loaded with tabletop kitchen appliances, BPD Sgt. Justin Maples stated in his report from the Saturday, Nov. 22 incident.

Maples located the suspect outside the store and asked him what he was doing at the store. The suspect told him, “it was just a big misunderstanding, that he thought his girlfriend had paid for the items,” the officer’s report stated.

A spokesman for Dollar General told officers that the store wanted to press charges. The merchandise was valued at $225.50. The Panola County jail log lists Ernest Earl Leverson of Sardis with having been charged for that offense.

Walmart’s loss prevention associate signed affidavits charging two people with shoplifting. BPD Patrolman Tommy Lindsey’s report alleges that on Nov. 22, a shoplifter “selected and concealed merchandise from the sales floor and did not make an effort to pay for it.” The item was valued in the report at $7.98. The jail log lists Holly Sharon Jenkins of Wayside, MS as having been charged with shoplifting for that offense.

Another shoplifter was charged with stealing a cell phone case valued at $34.88. Courtney Page McCullar of Wildwood Dr., Batesville is listed in the jail as having been charged on Nov. 22 with shoplifting in that incident.

All three charged with shoplifting will appear in Batesville Municipal Court where they could face fines up to $1,200 and other costs if convicted, Deputy Police Chief Don Province said.

Two are victims
of unusual scams
BPD Detective Lieutenant George Williford is investigating the suspected identity theft of a woman who was notified by her employer that someone had filed an unemployment claim using her name and Social Security number.

“A check was already sent to the person filing the claim for $235,” BPD Patrolman Wesley Hawkins’ report states.

BPD Detective Jeremiah Brown and Ohio authorities are investigating a report from a Batesville resident who received a letter from a collection agency stating that she owes the State of Ohio $1,702.21.
The victim told Sergeant Maples, “she has never lived outside of the State of Mississippi and that she does not owe anything,” the officer’s report stated.

Ohio authorities told Maples they will investigate further in their state and contact the victim, according to the report.