Crime Corner

COPS: Hospital reports ID phone scam

A new scam has reportedly appeared in Pahrump Valley involving calls from a group posing as Desert View Hospital staff looking for people’s personal information.

According to the hospital, the callers are contacting potential victims and stating they are representatives of the hospital and they need private medical information, including Medicare and Medicaid account numbers, for their records.

The callers will sometimes reportedly refuse to give potential victims their names when calling for their information and may become angry or frustrated when questioned about why they are calling.

“Representatives of Desert View Hospital always state their first name when calling patients. Sometimes representatives will ask for Medicare or Medicaid information, but it is not common practice,” Desert View Hospital Business Office Manager Jessica Link said. “Anyone who is asked for this information is encouraged to call the hospital’s main phone number at 775-751-7500, and ask the operator to be connected to the individual who called them initially.”

The hospital would additionally like to assure the community private medical files are not at risk.

“The hospital exceeds all government regulations set to protect patient information from disclosure or unauthorized access,” said Bryan Curtis, Information Technology Manager at DVH. “Desert View Hospital continuously monitors our systems to protect their integrity. Our systems are secure, and we have verified that we have not experienced any disclosures, breaches, or unauthorized access to our systems.”

COPS: Woman charged with battery after pinching police officer

One woman was arrested for battery on a police officer last week after she allegedly pinched a Nye County Sheriff’s deputy several times as he attempted to help her stand and walk to his vehicle after finding her lying intoxicated in the desert.

According to a declaration of arrest in the case, around 1 p.m. on Nov. 6 a deputy was dispatched to the area of West and Fourth streets for a report of an intoxicated person. When he arrived in the area, the officer saw a female, later identified as Shann Prince, lying in the desert southeast of the intersection.

The deputy also reportedly noticed a tan dog running around the area as well that he nearly struck after it ran out onto the road in front of him.

As the deputy began walking closer to Prince, the dog reportedly began to growl and snarl at him.

Despite commands to control her dog, Prince allegedly continued to let the dog run free and the deputy was forced to call animal control to remove the canine from the scene.

After the dog was gone and the deputy was able to talk to Prince, he reported noticing that her speech was slurred, slow and confused. It was also at that time Prince allegedly admitted to having had several beers that day.

The deputy then asked the woman to stand up and walk over to his vehicle, to which she allegedly replied she would not. He then approached Prince and helped her up before walking her to his car.

As they walked toward the vehicle, Prince allegedly began pinching the officer on his arms and trying to pull away from him. When she reportedly wouldn’t stop, the deputy placed Prince back on the ground and ordered her to place her hands behind her back.

When Prince refused to move her arms, the deputy forcibly placed her arms behind her back and Prince allegedly began trying to pinch the deputy once again. She also attempted to grab items from the deputy’s utility belt.

The officer was able to place handcuffs on Prince and transport her to the Nye County Detention Center to be booked into custody on charges of battery on a police officer, animal at large, resisting a public officer and obstruction.