Livingston Enterprise

Posted December 8, 2011 at 2:39 pm

A Rickman woman was charged by the Woodbury Police Department following an unusual incident, according to the Cannon Courier.

According to a police report, Christine Ann Dilts of 109 Hilltop Lane, Rickman, allegedly called Cannon County Dispatch on November 6 and said there was a domestic incident taking place at 901 West Main St. in Woodbury.

Dilts told dispatch she was getting gas at the Tobacco Outlet when she was actually in Rickman where she lives. Police said there was no domestic incident. She allegedly called it in because she was mad at her former daughter-in-law, Heather Dilts.

Christine Dilts also reportedly used the name Julie Smith when calling dispatch.

She was charged with filing a false report and criminal impersonation and has a court date on December 20.

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A scam that reportedly involved a soldier deployed in Iraq was foiled recently by Livingston Police.

On Nov. 26, Livingston police began investigating a case where an individual was contacted and asked to purchase some guns. According to police, the contact person stated the money that would be used from the purchase of the guns would help a family “in bad shape” because the family had a soldier deployed to Iraq. According to police, it was all a scam to lure the victim and steal money.

The victim met with the alleged scam artists to discuss the transaction and then drove to an unidentified parking lot behind the Livingston town square. Once there, the victim gave a person $200 for the purchase of guns. Reportedly, once the scam artists received the money, they went into the back door of some apartments to supposedly retrieve the guns and then exited out the front door of the apartments, fleeing on foot.

“Our last victim was able to provide some detailed information that allowed us to narrow down our list of suspects,” said Livingston Police Chief Greg Etheredge. “We conducted an extensive search of town and outlying areas looking for Rita Daniels. After several hours, Daniels agreed to surrender to authorities.”

Police said they have identified three separate victims of the scam and believe there may be more victims.

The suspects were identified as Daniels and her sister, Rachel Stamps, of Livingston. Sgt. Jonathan Swift filed charges against Daniels for one count of conspiracy to commit theft and two counts of criminal simulation, along with two counts of theft. In addition, charges were filed against Stamps for conspiracy to commit theft and one count of accessory after the fact.

Livingston police urge residents to be especially wary during the holiday season, as it is the time when criminal activity normally increases.

“If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has, contact the Livingston Police Department. We’re here to help,” Etheredge said.