Sheriff commends casino security for fast fraud arrest www.privateofficer.com
After an intense investigation involving Mountaineer security and several Hancock County sheriff’s deputies, deputies arrested Travis Antonio Lee of Maryland and ultimately charged him with fraudulent use of credit cards, fraudulent schemes and possession of a credit card-making device with intent to produce fraudulent credit cards.
White commends the actions taken by the personnel and staff at Mountaineer because “if it were not for their actions and attention to detail this person may not have been caught.”
According to White, Mountaineer security called the Hancock County 911 dispatch center at approximately 3 p.m. March 5 and reported a person was attempting to use a fraudulent credit card. Deputies were dispatched and immediately responded.
White said that Lee, after standing at the teller’s window for a period of time, apparently realized something was wrong and exited the casino with Mountaineer security personnel following him. Once outside, Lee took off running across the parking lot in an attempt to get away from Mountaineer security. White explained that Lee was able to make it to his vehicle and he then drove off Mountaineer property, heading north on Ohio River Boulevard.
Mountaineer personnel continued calling the sheriff’s dispatch with updates on the situation, including a description of the vehicle and its direction of travel. Chief Deputy Todd Murray stated that this continuing information was crucial in the apprehension of Travis Lee.
Traveling south on Ohio River Boulevard, Deputy First Class Doug Wade observed a vehicle matching the description provided by Mountaineer and he attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver appeared as though he was going to attempt to avoid apprehension, and Deputy First Class Eric Cline then assisted Wade in the traffic stop at the Holiday Inn Express.
The driver showed deputies a driver’s license that identified him as Travis Antonio Lee. Deputies also found additional evidence that linked him to the incident at Mountaineer, White said.
After responding to the scene of the traffic stop, Sgt. Scott Swan responded to Mountaineer for the purpose of collecting the evidence that was left behind and to view images provided by the surveillance department at Mountaineer. White said Swan was able to confirm that the images from Mountaineer and the person he observed at the traffic stop were the same. Lee was then arrested for the offense of fraudulent schemes and fraudulent use of credit cards and was transported to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
White said based on the information obtained and the nature of the complaint, Sgt. Art Watson obtained a search warrant for the vehicle driven by Lee. Watson and Deputy First Class Scott Little and his K-9 partner Christine executed the search warrant at Chaney’s Garage in Chester, where the vehicle had been towed.
Murray stated that as a result of the search, additional items of evidence were recovered and warrants were obtained for the third charge, which was possession of a credit card-making device with the intent to produce fraudulent credit cards.
