Fake 911 calls lead to two Moniteau County arrests

Daman Turner
Daman Turner

Two people are facing multiple criminal charges after being arrested following two fake 911 calls on Tuesday.

According to Moniteau County Sheriff's Department reports, deputies were contacted by the Tipton Police Department about a person who attempted to pass a fraudulent check at a local business. The person was identified as Elizabeth Mills, 34, of Columbia, who was staying at the Twin Pine Motel in Tipton. Further investigation also revealed Mills had several outstanding felony warrants for her arrest.

In the course of the investigation, deputies also learned, early Tuesday morning, a phone call was placed to 911 by a suspect identified as a Damon L. Turner, 44, of Rocheport, who stated there was a man with a gun at Casey's General Store in Tipton. During that previous call, Tipton police and sheriff's deputies could not locate any suspects.

While deputies were assisting Tipton police investigate the fraudulent check incident, they did obtained information that Turner was staying with Mills at the motel.

As deputies and Tipton police were about to make contact with Mills and Turner at the motel, another 911 call came in stating there was a man holding a gun to the head of a female subject at Dave's Country Mart in Tipton. Authorities went to the store, but found nothing.

Deputies then returned to the motel and made contact with Turner and Mills. Mills was taken into custody on the outstanding warrants and fraudulent check, and a consent to search of the room revealed methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and numerous IDs, blank checks and credit cards that did not belong to either subject. Deputies placed Turner under arrest as well.

Deputies learned Turner had placed both 911 calls in an attempt to draw law enforcement away from their locations. When authorities talked with Turner and Mills, they stated they had been on the run, traveling through multiple jurisdictions and using false identification to elude law enforcement.

Turner is currently on probation and parole and has had several felony convictions for forgery, burglary, resisting arrest and stealing. Multiple felony warrants were issued on both subjects, and the investigation into the blank checks and credit cards is ongoing involving multiple jurisdictions.