Identity theft suspect caught By Derek Gentile Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - GREAT BARRINGTON -- Following a 24-hour investigation that culminated in two local officers chasing down a suspect at a West Springfield mall, a Laconia, N.H., man has been arrested in connection with a three-state crime spree involving identity theft and credit card fraud in more than 21 communities. Police said that Troy Gay, 38, whose last known address was in Laconia, is being held at Hampden County Jail on a fugitive-from-justice warrant filed in Brentwood, N.H. However, Police Chief William R. Walsh Jr. said yesterday that Gay is a suspect in a series of credit card fraud schemes in more than 21 communities in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. In addition, he is wanted for questioning by the U.S. Attorney's office for a similar number of identity theft crimes. 21 towns in three states At this point, Walsh said, the investigation into Gay's actions is ongoing. Gay faces numerous charges from all 21 communities in the three states, including the Massachusetts towns of Marlboro, Athol, Leominster, Brockton, Cambridge and Rockland. His alleged accomplice, Rebekah Emerson, 31, is free on bail. She is charged with driving without a license and giving a false name and address. She was arraigned Friday. Emerson also faces charges in connection with these schemes. That investigation is also ongoing, Walsh said. Officer Edward "Rocky" Scarbro, the town's investigations officer, said Gay's scheme was relatively simple: He apparently entered local gyms and fitness centers and went through lockers, stealing credit cards out of unattended wallets. He then used the cards to purchase items or services. Several New Hampshire communities began the investigation into the thefts in July. Scarbro said yesterday that the current inventory of stolen goods adds up to about $30,000. "But that's the tip of the iceberg," he added. He expects the final figure to be much higher as more police stations check in with their final inventories. "A lot of departments in the three states are ecstatic that we caught this guy," he said. At 5:42 p.m. on Thursday, Great Barrington Police were called to McTeigue & McClelland Jewelers on South Main Street after an employee reported that the couple had come into the store and attempted to purchase a $7,000 item with an invalid credit card. The card turned out to be stolen, Scarbro said. Police got a description of the van in which the two had left the store, and at 7:26 that night, located and stopped the van. Emerson, the sole occupant, was arrested and charged with the motor vehicle violations. The van, which had a number of items that appeared to be stolen, was impounded. State and federal officials will arrive today to inspect the vehicle, Scarbro said. At about 8 p.m., he said, police determined that her companion, Gay, was wanted by the Brent-wood Police Department. Late that evening, Scarbro interviewed Emerson, who reportedly told him that "this was a large operation." On Friday, Emerson was arraigned, and a taxicab from a Chicopee cab company arrived at Southern Berkshire District Court to pick her up. Scarbro and Officer Victor Zucco began following the taxi in an unmarked vehicle in hopes that it would lead them to Gay. Walsh said the officers believed that Emerson would be driven to the Belair Motel in West Springfield, where the couple allegedly was staying. Instead, the taxi drove Emerson to the Riverdale Shopping Mall in West Springfield. "They threw us a curve," Walsh said. "I actually don't know how those guys in the movies do it," Scarbro said. "They didn't even know we were behind them, and it was still hard to keep them in sight in West Springfield." The cab stopped in the Riverdale mall and Emerson exited. Gay was there to meet her, and as they embraced, Scarbro and Zucco exited their car to arrest Gay. He bolted into the K-B Toys store at Riverdale, ran through the store and exited through the back. What followed was a lengthy foot chase, Scarbro said. "We were at a disadvantage because we didn't know the place," said Zucco. Gay ducked into another store and exited through the rear, smashing out a portion of the glass door to get out. Zucco and Scarbro were right behind him, however, and ran him down on a grassy knoll about a dozen yards past the mall. Eventually, they walked him back to the front of the mall, where he was taken into custody by the state police. Scarbro credited state Trooper Brian Frechette for helping in the search, as well as the West Springfield Police Department and detective unit. Walsh credited Scarbro and Zucco, who was off-duty at the time, and Officers Merritt Heady and Mark Stannard, who also were off-duty and assisted in the investigation. "This was a 24-hour effort, and if the town of Great Barrington doesn't have a full-time investigator, these folks are still out on the street," Walsh said. "And also, give credit to officers who came out on their own time to assist in this investigation. This was a major player in the area, and they wanted to make sure he was out of circulation." "I had a lot of help," agreed Scarbro. "I had guys who were off-duty volunteering their time. That says a lot about the department." Courtesy of: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/Stories/0,1413,101~7516~2400000,00.html# |