Sheriff Report 7.28.2016

During the week of July 13 – 26, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office answered 293 Calls for Service, arrested and booked 28 into the Douglas County Jail.  There are 29 housed in the Douglas County Jail and one currently held out of county.

Hart

On July 18 the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest of a Joshua Hart, 34, of West Plains for felony Class B theft/stealing.  This was the result of an investigation of reports of burglary in the month of June in the Twin Bridges area. The pre-liminary estimated value of the thefts is around $14,000-plus.  Hart is currently incarcerated in the Douglas County Jail with a $25,000 cash or 10% surety bond.
On July 23, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding suspicious activity involving a 16-year-old female and a male subject. The father of the girl had attempted to pick her up from a relative’s house and she wasn’t there. When located by the father, the girl was with an older male and his wife.

Burdick

Further investigation led to the arrest of Terrence Burdick, 37, of Ava.  Burdick, a registered sex offender, was charged with felony Class C 2nd degree statutory rape, and is currently being held in the Douglas County Jail with a $20,000 cash only bond.

Bishop

On July 23, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a mother regarding her juvenile son whom she could not locate.  Contact was made via text with the juvenile male by a sibling in which he stated he would be there soon.
Soon after that a report was received regarding a stolen 2000 model white Dodge Caravan that had been taken from a residence on north Highway 5 sometime during the night. A report was taken and the van was entered as stolen. A short time later the van was found abandoned in Wright County. The vehicle was released to the owner.
Upon further investigation and information received by Deputy Stacey Freeman, a suspect regarding the stolen vehicle was at a residence in Ava, and she arrested the male subject, Alex Bishop, 17.  A warrant was then obtained for Bishop for felony Class C tampering with a motor vehicle, 1st degree, with a $15,000, 10% cash or surety bond.
Bishop is currently incarcerated in the Douglas County Jail.
A second juvenile male subject has been referred to the juvenile courts for his involvement in the theft of the motor vehicle.
On July 25, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a shooting in the Ava High School parking lot. Upon arriving the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Ava Police Department by processing the crime scene and interviewing witnesses. At the conclusion of the joint investigation, it was determined a male subject shot another male subject before turning the weapon on himself and taking his own life. The male subject that was shot is expected to recover.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Department has received several calls regarding scam phone calls this week. The call appears to come from Ava R-1 Schools. When answered they ask about credit card debt and attempt to obtain credit card information from the answering party. Several have attempted to return the call which in fact is answered by Ava Schools.
If you happen to receive a call from Ava Schools, please answer as it could be legitimate or important.  However, if you answer and the party begins to ask information of you that is obviously not fitting of a school phone call, hang up and call 1-866-289-9633, Missouri Attorney General’s Office Buzz Off number, and give them the information regarding the phone call.
As always, never give out any kind of personal information over the phone.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at 417-683-1020 or 417-683-1460.
Sheriff Chris Degase