Scammer pretending to be officer threatens arrest

Over the weekend, the Pinal County Sheriff’s office received multiple reports of an individual that was contacting residents by phone and claiming to be with the Yuma or Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. He stated he was a lieutenant and threatened to arrest them for a jury summons or warrant.

Saturday between 5:53 and 8:35 p.m. the PCSO dispatch received five separate calls regarding the unknown suspect.

In each instance, the suspect claimed to be a Lt. Fred Burns with the Pinal or Yuma County Sheriff’s Office.

The male suspect told three of the victims he would arrest them if they did not go to court. When the victims requested more information, he became belligerent and threatened to come to their homes tonight to arrest them and take them to jail. For those contacted regarding a warrant, the caller demanded payment of $1,500 to avoid being taken into custody.