Girls Gone Wild “Saga” Continues
By: Elizabeth Cate
Joe Francis a No Show for Court Proceeding
Source: WMBB News Department
Community Members Experience “One Night Without a Home”
By: Erin Hawley
Fire Near New Airport No Cause for Concern
By: Jessi Chapin
Lucky Puppy Dog Rescue Adoption Event
By: Erin Hawley
Bay Med Hosts Construction Tour
By: Allyson Walker
Florida’s Unemployment Climbs but Panhandle Boasts Some of the Lowest Rates
Source: Associated Press
Thomas Drive and Joan Avenue to be Closed for Construction
Source: City of Panama City Beach
Rates for High-Risk Accounts Going Up
Source: Associated Press
Shoppers Should Know Their Rights Before the Holidays
Source: Associated Press
For Additional Headlines - go to our News Section »
- Three Bay County Hospitals Go Smoke-Free
made by protectfloridajobs.com - Three Bay County Hospitals Go Smoke-Free
made by retired one - Man Arrested for Catching Goliath Grouper
made by gator@work - Three Bay County Hospitals Go Smoke-Free
made by gator@work - Three Bay County Hospitals Go Smoke-Free
made by retired one
- Joe Francis a No Show for Court Proceeding
- Girls Gone Wild “Saga” Continues
- Update: New Details in Cocaine Case Emerge
- Woman Charged with Fatally Shooting Husband After Blaming Dog
- H1N1 Flu Vaccination Clinic for People 24 and Under
- Fountain Woman Charged with Husband’s Murder - First Appearance
- Cocaine Trial for Amy Cooper Continues
- 10 Worst Toys of the 2009 Holiday Season
- Mistrial Declared in Case Against Amy Cooper
- Tuberculosis Case at Arnold
Bay County, Fla:
A hand-out puts suspected criminals in handcuffs. Fake stimulus funds lured them into the custody of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
“Money is one of the roots of all evil,” said Sheriff Frank McKeithen.
To set up the scenario, the Sheriff sent out this letter, to people with warrants issued in the last six months. The mail reeled in 39 people across Gulf, Bay, and Jackson County to collect a phony check of nearly $700.
“Most of them are feeling stupid,” said McKeithen.
Law enforcement from all over the panhandle took part in the play. The cast of characters included take down deputies, search officers and what they call “village people.”
To set the stage suspects meandered through three rooms of deputies in disguise, but it was the finale that really hit home.
“Obviously these people came to get their money, and they got a little bit more than that,” said McKeithen.
Upon arrival in the fourth room, they realized the jig was up. The sight of deputies signaled their fate was sealed.
“They lost, today we won,” said McKeithen.
Anger, surprise, and laughter lined the faces of the freshly arrested. After a full search, a forced smile and foot shackles they went off to the Sheriff’s Office and on to jail.
“We planned for everything that we could think of that could have happened,” said McKeithen.
To make the stimulus hoax a success, the sheriff paid strict attention to detail. His team created an internet site, an encouraging slogan and realistic signs.
“It worked out great, this time, it worked out great,” said McKeithen.
Even though no stimulus money was passed out, it got these people with charges that range from petty theft to battery off of the streets.
WMBB.com requires that you be a registered site member to post comments and content.
First, we are not being sneaky and gathering your email or other information to sell to telemarketers or e-mail spam companies.
Registration on this site is required simply to allow us to keep people who would post discriminatory, threatening and harassing messages and comments from doing it again.
By having user registration, we hope to provide you with a better user experience. Please view WMBB.com's full Terms & Conditions