Dear friends and neighbors,
Every time I open Facebook, there is another post about Valerie Reed. While I know her actions are frustrating to many, this is not a new issue.
About 18 years ago, my husband and I were watching a late movie, about 1:00 AM. Someone pulled in our driveway and came to the door. There stood a young woman with a sob story. Her baby had just gotten out of hospital and had a prescription at Walgreen’s that she didn’t have the money to fill. Could we please give her some money?
I told her to let me get dressed and I would follow her to Walgreen’s and pay for the prescription. I told my husband to stall her while I got dressed and called the police.
The police arrived and they were familiar with this woman. She had been doing this and conning people out of money across the city. She was told to leave East Ridge and stop her practices. Before walking away, I told her, she was the lowest thing that I had ever seen to lie about a child being sick to get money. I advised the officer that he needed to get her off my property immediately. I didn’t care what he did with her but I wanted her out of my sight!!
Since then I have never had anyone come to my door and ask for money. Before anyone asks, I don’t remember what she said her name was. Was it Valerie almost 20 years ago? I don’t know. The officer did tell me that many good people had already been scammed by her and gave her money.
The reason I tell this story now is because there is so much talk about how bad things have become in East Ridge. Yes times have changed, that is true. The reason many think East Ridge is going downhill is thanks to social media… everyone immediately knows everything that is happening everywhere. Yes, there are Valeries out there; they were there 20 years ago. Yes, there are drugs and crime; there were drugs and crime 20 years ago. You had to keep your guard up 20 years ago just like you do now.
Don’t allow people to make you a victim!! Pay attention, protect yourself and call the police if you feel uncomfortable or threatened. Posting on social media alerts other people, it does not solve a problem.
I would also like to ask East Ridge News Online to find out from the police what they advise citizens to do when they encounter someone asking for money, soliciting at your home or trying to con you. When do these people no longer become just a nuisance? When do they cross the legal line where they can be arrested and charged? What can they be charged with?
_ Frances Pope
