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Jefferson County sheriff
Don't do it: A 16-year-old Dillonvale youth irritated by a scam telemarketing call left a voicemail message that tripped alarms with Homeland Security, Thursday. The youth allegedly left a voicemail on what he thought was the telemarketer's phone suggesting he'd "bombed the embassy in Iran with a car full of plastic explosives and how he is joining Al Qaeda." Investigators with the Joint Terrorism Task Force Homeland Security Investigation traced the caller to a home in Mount Pleasant township, where deputies said the teen admitted trying to call the telemarketer back to "prank them." The scammers apparently had spoofed the phone number that appeared on the youth's caller ID, and the individual who actually owns that number found the message and reported it to Belmonth County sheriff's deputies. The special agent who'd requested deputies investigate the call said the matter is closed, but he will be speaking with the youth and his mother to ensure there is no repeat.
Bad idea: A man told deputies his ex-girlfriend had called to tell him "they" wanted to beat him up, Thursday. Deputies were enroute to the man's home when they noticed two people in a truck following them, and when they pulled over to let it pass the driver immediately turned around. They followed, and when the truck stopped were able to identify the passenger as the ex-girlfriend, who said she'd been drinking at a nearby restaurant and called a male friend to drive her to her ex's home. She denied threatening her ex and said they were going to get her vehicle. She was advised she needed to go home and sober up before she can get her vehicle.
Hearing things: A caller in the Dillonvale area reported hearing five shots fired and possibly someone claiming to have been shot, Friday. When that call came in, deputies were already enroute to the scene to check the area at the request of a woman who'd spotted a group of people, including an individual who'd caused trouble for her earlier in the week, across the street from her residence.
Two of the woman's companions told deputies they thought the other man and several of his friends were there to fight them after the issues they'd had the other day and said they thought the men had fled to the abandoned house, but they denied hearing gun shots. Deputies, assisted by Wells Township and Yorkville police, searched the area but were unable to locate the individuals, shell casings or any blood. The man who heard the gunshots said it sounded like a small caliber round.
Concerned: Deputies were dispatched to an Adena residence after a caller reported a Facebook contact had asked him to call for help because a man was beating up his girlfriend "somewhere on County Road 120," Thursday. While enroute to the location, the Facebook contact called the sheriff's department, telling them she saw the man drag his girlfriend out of the car during an argument, but when they spoke with the couple each of them said it was "a misunderstanding" and denied a physical altercation.
Booked: Austin Rein Egnew, 26, 212 Parr Ave., Mingo Junction, violating a protection order, Thursday.
Steubenville police
Injured: A North Sixth Street resident told police he and his girlfriend were arguing and she slammed the door on his hand when he tried to leave for work, Thursday. The man told police he had his cell phone in hand and the impact broke it. Police said his left hand was swollen.
Bogus bill: An employee at a local market told police a male known to her tried to pay for a coffee with a counterfeit $100 bill and expected her to hand him $98.01 in change, Thursday. She said she realized instantly the bill was fake and refused to give him change or even return the counterfeit money, so he left the coffee on the counter because he didn't have money to pay for it. She told police he'd also tried to steal a $2 honey bun earlier in the day.
Threats: A Murphy Avenue resident said her boyfriend tried to take a bag of groceries and threatened to kill her, Thursday. The boyfriend denied it, though he did admit he'd "had a little bit to drink" and was leaving the residence for the night to let things calm down.
Targeted: A Kendall Avenue resident said her neighbor saw a man shooting his BB gun at her garage, Thursday. Police said here were two very small dents in the door that appeared to be similar to markings from a BB gun.
Code issues: Notices of violation were sent to the owners of property at 1201 Oak Grove Ave., 1328 Oak Grove Ave., 2811 Cleveland Ave., 1311 Belleview Blvd., 1211 State St., 1219 State St., all for high grass.
Cited: Kristy N. Meyers, 41, 122 Dana Lynn Dr., Wintersville, was cited for failure to yield after a two-car accident Thursday in the 2100 block of Sunset Boulevard. Meyers told police she pulled into Sunset after a motorist waved her on, colliding with the other car. Both vehicles suffered disabling damage, police said.
Deep freeze: Someone entered a residence in the 1300 block of Jefferson Street through a window, pilfered $150 in food items from a freezer and left through the back door, Friday.
Damaged: A neighbor told a woman who has a property in the 500 block of Lawson that someone had damaged the front door and window, Thursday. Police said the door was ajar though the chain was still attached and there was glass throughout the room, along with two small bricks left on the floor.
Booked: George Mavromatis, 33, 123 New Alexandria Rd, Brilliant, possession of drugs, Thursday. He also was cited for driving under suspension, police said. A caller reported seeing a man slumped over the steering wheel, but Mavromatis told police he'd hit the curb and had a blow-out, and police were slow responding so he dozed off.
Booked: Savion Johnson, 26, Chicago, falsification, weapon under disability, obstructing justice, felonious assault and discharging a weapon into a home or school (pending), Thursday; Shekira Brandon, 26, 1648 Ridge Ave., Steubenville, violating a protection order, Thursday; Micah L. Goss, 26, Knoxville, TN, falsification, also cited for a stop sign violation, Thursday.
Cited: Sharon L. McFadden, 68, 145 Woodland Drive, Wellsburg, leaving the scene.