Early Police Chief David Mercer reports that Early Police Officers Stephanie Haile and Keith Varner stopped a motorist for speeding Monday night around 10am. Mercer said that the driver, later identified as 27-year-old Timothy Scott Thacker of Brownwood, as well as the passenger, 34-year-old Michael Dwain Wilkerson of Brownwood, were acting nervous and being evasive when answering questions.  Mercer also said that Thacker produced a Texas ID card for another individual.

Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy James Stroope and K9 Izzy were requested to assist on the stop.  Izzy alerted on the vehicle causing a search of the vehicle to be conducted according to Mercer.  Small amounts of marijuana residue and paraphernalia were found in the vehicle, and officers located numerous computer generated checks on a Brownwood business and Brownwood bank along with other businesses located near and in Oklahoma Mercer said. The checks were made out to Michael Wilkerson and a couple of other individuals. During the course of the investigation, Mercer said that Thacker destroyed a cell phone and sim card which he later admitted had evidence on them. The Brownwood business owner was contacted and stated he had no knowledge of who the individuals were or why they would have the checks.

Both individuals were taken into custody and charged with Forgery. Thacker was also charged with Failure to Identify, Fraudulent Possession of Identifying Information, Tampering with Evidence and a warrant from Wichita County.

The investigation is continuing to determine what other areas the counterfeit checks may have been cashed

Other law enforcement reports and arrests released on April 5, 2011.

Sunday, April 3

*7:40am – The Early Police Department investigated a motorcycle accident where the high winds caused the driver of a motorcycle to lose control and crash. The driver on the bike was wearing a helmet and sustained several cuts and bruises to his arms and elbows and a broken ankle. The driver was transported by Guardian EMS to the Brownwood ER.

*4:23pm – A Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to the Western Oaks Lane regarding fraud.  The complainant advised that he and his wife had received a phone call from a person posing as their grandson.  This unknown person stated that he was in jail in Santiago, Dominican Republic and needed money to get out of jail.  According to the report, the caller sounded like their grandson and knew information about him when questioned, and because it was not unusual for their grandson to travel internationally, the complainant and his wife sent money in the amount of $3800 to the Dominican Republic to assist. The caller claimed that he and a friend had been at a wedding and had a wreck as he drove the friend home.  According to the caller, while at the hospital he had a blood alcohol content of 1.4 and was arrested.  The only odd thing the complainant noted about the call was that the caller ID on the complainant’s phone showed a location of Quebec, Canada and not the Dominican Republic.

On April 3, 2010, the complainant spoke with his grandson to wish him a happy birthday over the weekend and was informed that the grandson had not travelled to the Dominican Republic and had not requested any money be sent to him.

The complainant was advised that it would be very difficult to locate the suspect who lives in another country and prosecution would be difficult as well.  The complainant wanted to report this in case other instances of this type of fraud occurred.

Monday, April 4

*8:23am – Brownwood Police received a report of harassment that occurred in the 400 block of 4th Street.

*9:10am – Brownwood Police were dispatched to the 1900 block of Elizabeth regarding theft.  A suspect has been identified and charges are being pursued.

6:45pm – A wallet was found and turned in to the Brownwood Police at the Law Enforcement Center by a male subject.   An officer made contact with the owner who was able to claim and pick up the wallet.

*7:31pm – Brownwood Police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 3700 block of Savoy.  After an investigation it was determined that a physical altercation had taken place between a male and female.  Both subjects were reluctant to provide information regarding the assault and both declined to pursue criminal charges.  A report was filed regarding the incident.

*11:12pm – Brownwood Police were called to the 2400 block of Belmeade regarding fraud.  After an investigation, it was determined that several unauthorized transactions that had been made on a male subject’s checking account via a debit card.  A report was generated regarding the incidents.

*Brown County Sheriff’s Office arrested 39-year-old David James McCombs for Driving While Intoxicated, 3rd or more and for an outstanding warrant for DWI, 3rd or more.