Check round up nets 13 arrests, $18.5k
By Staff
Melissa Cason, Franklin County Times
The Franklin County District Attorney's Worthless Check Unit announced the results of their recent bad check roundup, held on June 28-29.
The check unit collected $18,500 in checks and fees during the two-day round up, which spanned the entire county, Summer Barnes, unit coordinator, said.
"We made 13 arrests, 23 warrants were served and 108 bad checks were paid during the roundup," Barnes said.
The round up is a semi annual event at the check unit where officers throughout the county spend the day serving warrants and rounding up people who have unpaid bad checks.
"I would like to thank all of the officers who helped my office with this roundup," Barnes said.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Department, Russellville Police Department, Phil Campbell Police Department, Red Bay Police Department, and Haleyville Police Department participated in the round up, Barnes said.
"They [all the departments] worked really hard and we had excellent results," Barnes said.
Barnes said that customers need to realize that writing a worthless check in Franklin County is a crime, and the check unit will enforce the law.
District Attorney Joey Rushing said that his office takes worthless check writing very seriously.
"We were pleased with the results of the round up and many businesses will receive the money owed to them as a result of the round up." Rushing said.
"If someone makes a mess of their checkbook, the best thing they can do is start calling everyone he or she has written a check to and explain the situation," Barnes said.
"Most of the time, the businesses are willing to work with you to get the checks cleared up."
She added that if the check is turned over to the check unit, the best thing to do is to call the unit and talk with her about getting it paid.
"We will work with people but we can't if they don't call," Barnes said.
The Franklin County Worthless Check Unit works under the authority of the Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing.
