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Deputy Robert Gailbraith and Apollo.
Deputy Robert Gailbraith and Apollo.

Erie County Sheriff's Office: K9 finds lost female

Fri, Jul 21st 2017 04:45 pm
Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announced two successful canine tracks conducted July 18 located and returned two elderly individuals back to their families, including one from Grand Island.
The first incident occurred in Grand Island around 3:34 p.m. Tuesday when a Love Road resident went missing from her home. A care provider noticed the 80-year-old female had walked away from the house while he was working in the yard. The caregiver started yelling for the individual and walked around the yard, but could not locate her.
Deputy Robert Galbraith and his canine partner, Apollo, pictured, as well as other deputies arrived and established a perimeter. The K9 team initiated a track through a wooded area adjacent to the house. Apollo, a German shepherd, tracked a trail and located the woman wandering through the woods. She was found in good health and was reunited with her family after a 40-minute search.
The second incident happened around 10:15 p.m. in the Town of Clarence. A home care aide called 911 after noticing the 79-year-old male resident was not in the house. Deputy Richard Lundberg and his canine partner, Haso, joined the search. Haso's track lasted less than 15 minutes when the team located the male in a wooded area. The elderly male was found in good health and deputies transported him home.
Deputies Galbraith and Lundberg went through the same police work dog academy together in 2015 and are certified K9 handlers with tracking and other discipline certifications from New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
The training and acquisition of the police work dogs were paid for using assets seized during drug raids.
Howard issues warning about utility scam
Howard reported his office investigated a suspicious occurrence on July 12 at a veterinarian's office in the Town of Clarence.
A deputy spoke with a doctor associated with the business, who detailed how the business received a call from a female who identified herself as "Amanda." The female claimed to be a representative from New York State Electric and Gas and she was attempting to collect an outstanding balance of $1,400. The caller also stated she would send a worker to the facility to turn off the meter if the balance is not paid.
A short time later, a balding male with a "beer gut" who was wearing a high-visibility yellow shirt arrived and walked around the building multiple times but never entered the facility. The male returned to a white Nissan pickup truck with a roof light and waited in the vehicle. The caller then advised the doctor to proceed to a Rite Aid location and call 1-844-335-0964 to receive further instruction on how to pay the bill. The deputy learned that Rite Aid locations do not accept utility payments.
The deputy called the number several times and was either hung up on or directed to an automated answering service that mimics NYSEG's system.
Howard is warning residents and businesses not to follow the scam artists' instructions and to call the phone number printed on your utility bill to make proper inquiries before making any payments. Additionally, the sheriff cautions everyone that individuals are posing as collection agents for utilities or governments and often ask their intended victims to pay an outstanding balance or fine by using a pre-paid credit card or Green Dot card; this should be an indication of a scam.
If anyone observes or has had contact with a male matching the provided description, who is driving a white Nissan pickup truck with a roof light, is asked to contact the Erie County Sheriff's Office at 716-858-2903 or their local police department.
Also, residents are advised to contact their utility provider before making any payment via Green Dot cards or pre-paid credit cards.

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