Rome Police Apprehend Scam Artist

By Hayden Jennings, RNW Weekend Reporter

Rome Police apprehended a scam artist Friday Night after searching for almost a week.

The unidentified white male was first reported last week in the Rome area. Since that time, Rome Police have been responding to numerous calls about this suspect who combs shopping centers and other similar places, approaching citizens and giving them a “sob” story. He would tell people that the Georgia State Patrol had contacted him and said his daughter had been in a serious accident in South Georgia. He would then say that he had no money and would ask for help. Police were close to apprehending him last Saturday, when he was reported at the East Rome Wal-Mart then in the Stonebridge area of Armuchee, but he somehow evaded them.

Police finally apprehended the suspect early Friday evening on Carter Avenue in West Rome. He is currently in the Floyd County Jail on numerous charges including theft by deception.

At this time, the Rome Police Department is asking for your help in this ongoing investigation. Again, he has been described as a white male driving a white Ford Taurus. If you have seen or had an encounter with this suspect or have any other information in this case, you are asked to please call Detective Joe Costolnick at (706)-238-5128.