Woman arrested in check scam
Published 5:34 pm Friday, October 17, 2008
A Lowndes County woman suspected of passing thousands of dollars in bad checks in Greenville is in custody, according to Butler County Sheriff Kenny Harden.
Harden said Thoney Witcher Harris, 54, of Hope Hull, was arrested on outstanding warrants by Lowndes County deputies on Thursday and transported to Butler County. She faces two charges of theft by deception in Greenville with other charges pending, said Harden.
Harris was in L.V. Stabler Memorial Hospital on Friday afternoon.
“When we started explaining to her all the trouble she was in, her blood pressure shot up and she had to be taken to the hospital,” said Harden.
Following treatment, Harris will be incarcerated at the Butler County Jail.
Harden said deputies have yet to recover the over $7,000 in furniture Harris is suspected of purchasing at Southern Furniture of Greenville two weeks ago. A $6,000 lawnmower, bought at Powell Tractor Company, has subsequently been seized at Harris’ residence and returned to the business, said Harden.
Also, the Nissan automobile Harris was driving at the time of her arrest had been reported stolen by a Georgia dealership, he said.
Brewton detectives contacted Harden last week about the theft of a Harley Davidson motorcycle from a dealership in Escambia County. The motorcycle – worth an estimated $12,000 – was also at Harris’ residence when sheriff’s deputies began their investigation.