Scam involving death of Middletown city worker may have stopped

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/crime/scam-involving-death-of-middletown-city-worker-may-have-stopped-753772.html

By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer
Updated 11:28 AM Wednesday, June 9, 2010

MIDDLETOWN — Last month, police warned about a scam using the recent tragic death of a city worker to dupe local residents into handing over money. Investigators said today, June 9, the bogus calls many have stopped after scammers heard warning via the media.

Detective Steve Winters said after the initial three complaints that began May 27, he has not received anymore reports of bogus calls. The scammers, claiming to be representatives of the Middletown police and fire divisions, were asking for donations to the Jabin Lakes family.

Lakes, 31, died from a lack of oxygen May 7 while inspecting a manhole on Yankee Road in front of Air Products & Chemicals. The accident also injured three firefighters.

At no point has the Middletown police or fire divisions solicited funds over the phone for the Lakes family, officials said.

“I believed they saw it (in media reports) and backed off,” Winters said.

It appeared the calls were made from a Cincinnati number, but attempts to trace the number were unsuccessful, he said.

If anyone should received a call they are asked to contact police at [phone].

A fund has been set up for the Lakes family in the name of his eldest daughter, Tomasina Lakes, at area Chase Bank branches.


From the AFSCME Blog: Jabin Lakes of Middletown, a member of Local 856 (AFSCME Council 8), was killed on May 7. Authorities said Lakes, a 31-year-old city Public Works employee, opened a manhole during a routine sewer line maintenance inspection and was overcome by gas from leaky nitrogen lines.

Lakes passed out and fell into the 20-foot-deep well, dying from asphyxiation. Three firefighters who worked to rescue Lakes were also hospitalized after being sickened by the fumes.

At his funeral, hundreds of friends, family and co-workers mourned the father of two. Noting Lakes’ background in electrical work, Local 856 Pres. Dave Berry observed: “The city’s lights will not be as bright” after the tragedy.

In 2009, seven AFSCME members were killed on the job.