Murfreesboro, TN – A school employee at Barfield Elementary was the target of an aggressive phone scam Thursday after a caller allegedly impersonated a sergeant with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and claimed she had federal warrants issued against her.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the caller pretended to be Sgt. Robert Dowell and told the employee she had failed to attend federal court. The man allegedly instructed her to come to the sheriff’s office to submit handwriting samples — a demand authorities say is a major red flag in ongoing “law enforcement impersonation” scams impacting Middle Tennessee.
School Resource Officer Rodney Skaggs said the employee put the call on speaker and walked into the SRO office, alerting him to the situation. When Skaggs began speaking with the caller, the scammer immediately hung up.
“The guy sure didn’t want to talk to me,” Skaggs said.
The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office issued a public warning shortly after the incident, reminding residents that deputies do not call people to notify them about federal warrants, missed court appearances, or demands for handwriting samples. These tactics, officials said, are designed to intimidate and pressure victims into complying before they have time to think or verify the call.
Federal warrant scams continue to rise statewide, with callers often spoofing legitimate agency numbers and using real officer names to appear credible. Authorities say residents should hang up immediately if they receive similar threats.
The Sheriff’s Office urges the public to report suspicious calls and verify any law enforcement contact directly through official phone numbers — not those provided by an unknown caller.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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