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Police warn of asphalt scammers

Indiana State Police have made one arrest and are looking for more suspects in a Posey County construction scam.

A news release from State Police Sgt. Todd Ringle says an employee of Oaks Construction approached an 87-year-old woman at her New Harmony home and told her his crew had an extra load of asphalt and could offer her a good price to pave her driveway. 

She was allegedly quoted a price between $1,000 and $2,000. She agreed and the crew did the work, but near the end of the job one of the workers knocked on her door and demanded $6,000 for the work. 

The woman wrote a check and called her son, who contacted police.

Troopers stopped the crew on I-64 and one of the employees was identified as 34-year-old Michael Coope, who was wanted in Crawford County, IL, for Failure to Appear in a home improvement fraud case. 

Troopers arrested Coope and took him to the Posey County Jail.

Police say other suspects are driving two white dump trucks, with one pulling a tractor, a roller, and other asphalt equipment. Police believe the crews are using various business names.

The 87-year-old victim was able to cancel her check before it was cashed.