The Houston County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about a text message scam claiming to be from the Alabama Department of Revenue.
According to reports, the scam message threatens recipients with overdue traffic penalties and DMV-related fees. The message may also warn that your driver’s license or vehicle registration will be suspended if payment is not made immediately.
Officials say these messages are not legitimate.
What to know:
The text may include a link to pay fees online.
Do notclick any links.
Do notprovide any personal or financial information.
The Alabama Department of Revenue will neversend threatening text messages demanding immediate payment.
If you receive a message like this:
Do not click any links.
Do not respond.
Do not provide personal information.
Residents are encouraged to stay alert and protect themselves from scams targeting personal information.
A 13-year-old boy reportedly defended his mother and held his stepfather down with a bicycle after deputies say the man attacked his wife during a domestic dispute near Foley.
According to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a home on Underwood Road in reference to a domestic violence complaint.
When deputies arrived, they found the 13-year-old boy in the yard holding down his 32-year-old stepfather, Darnel Hernandez-Lopez, with a bicycle. Authorities said Hernandez-Lopez had multiple injuries to his face.
Investigators say Hernandez-Lopez’s wife told deputies the couple got into an argument that turned physical when he allegedly grabbed her by the neck and began choking her. The incident reportedly happened in front of her son.
According to officials, the woman told her son to go get help, but Hernandez-Lopez allegedly followed the boy outside and attempted to violently engage him in the front yard.
The boy then defended himself, striking his stepfather several times in the face and subduing him until deputies arrived, authorities said.
Hernandez-Lopez was arrested and charged with felony assault by strangulation. He was booked into the Baldwin County Corrections Center, where he is being held on a $30,000 bond. Officials also say an immigration holdhas been placed against him.
DOTHAN: 9:32 PM Dothan 911 dispatched multiple Dothan Fire Engine Companies to First Baptist Church, Community Center, 207 N. Lena Street. The person reporting stated they could see lights flashing and looked like smoke inside the buidling.
Dothan Fire Engine 10 ( West Main ) was first on the scene as they were near the scene. Upon arrival Engine 10 reported nothing visible, investigating.
Dothan Fire Truck Company 1 ( Central ) was second engine company on the scene.
Two minutes after Engine 10 arrived they reported they had done a 360 survey ( 360 is a total walk around ) and through the windows could see no smoke or flames. Engine 10 cancelled all response and declared no structure fire at this location. All units, except Engine 10 were returning to service.
Dothan Police and Pilcher Ambulance responded also. And Dothan 911 doing a fantastic job as they have been slammed tonight.
Two suspects taken into custody after a traffic stop escalated into a pursuit and crash have now been identified as brothers from Pensacola.
According to an update released at 3:38 p.m., the suspects are 21-year-old Max Lewisand 26-year-old Blake Lewis.
Earlier Thursday, authorities said the incident began as a routine traffic stop on the Foley Beach Express north of U.S. Highway 98. Baldwin County Sheriff Anthony Lowery said that after the initial stop, the driver fled, leading deputies on a chase before crashing into a motorcyclist.
After the crash, both the driver and passenger ran into nearby woods but were captured a short time later.
The motorcyclist was reported to be conscious and alertwhen taken by ambulance to a hospital in Pensacola.
Sheriff Lowery said both suspects had warrants from other agencies and are not from Alabama. Deputies also found a gun and drugsinside the vehicle during an initial search.
Houston County grand jurors have indicted the suspected shooter in the killing of Dothan businessman Perry Griffin nearly 20 years after the deadly shooting.
Kendrick Bryant, identified by investigators in 2020 as the alleged gunman, was not immediately charged at that time because he was already serving a lengthy prison sentence on unrelated charges.
The case has slowly moved forward in the years since, with one co-defendant already sentenced and another still awaiting retrial.
Kevin Thornton pleaded guilty in December to criminally negligent homicide and was sentenced to one year in prison.
Jessie Jerome Swain’s case ended in a mistrial in January after a judge determined jurors had heard testimony that could have unfairly influenced the case. Swain is awaiting retrial.
Bryant’s indictment marks the latest development in the long-running case surrounding Griffin’s death.
