quote:

Dead Sailor’s Father Accused of Forgery[/b]
June 04, 2008
Virginian-Pilot

The Navy is investigating the arrest of a grieving father who was jailed for several hours on suspicion of forgery after he tried to deposit a government check for his son's death benefits.

Seaman Daniel Mayberry, a 21-year-old sailor aboard the Little Creek-based dock landing ship Carter Hall, died May 27 of injuries suffered in a car accident on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach.

On Friday, his father, John E. Mayberry, tried to deposit the $100,000 U.S. Treasury Department check at a branch of Texas State Bank in Harlingen , Texas. The bank's staff suspected the check was phony and called police, who arrested Mayberry. The Navy intervened to have him released after six hours behind bars and the charges have now been dropped, said Cmdr. Flex Plexico, a spokesman for the Bureau of Naval Personnel.

Although Mayberry was finally allowed to deposit the check Monday after the Secret Service stepped in, questions remain.

"Our priority is to make sure the Mayberry family has the support they need," Plexico said. The Navy is working with local authorities "to find out as much as we can about how this could have happened."

He said he has never heard of another such case. The Defense Department pays death benefits to a service member's next of kin to help with funeral expenses and provide additional support.

Cody Sparks, the bank's district retail executive, said the bank was simply following protocol meant to protect consumers. The bank contacted the U.S. Treasury Department and was told that the check was fraudulent, he said. At that point, he said, the bank was legally obligated to call the police. It was the police officers' decision to arrest Mayberry, he contended.

"Texas State Bank did not make the decision to arrest him," Sparks said. "In general, this is just an unfortunate incident."

The Harlingen Police Department confirmed Mayberry's arrest, but a spokesperson did not return phone calls seeking further comment.

Patti Correa of Newport News, a military spouse and mother who has worked in banking, said she thinks the bank should have taken further steps to help Mayberry and verify the check's authenticity.

"He went in saying, 'I lost my son, and this is the check,' " said Correa, who is involved in military support groups such as Blue Star Families of Hampton Roads. "I think they should've investigated it further before they called the police. That just caused more harm to him in his emotional state."

Mayberry could not be reached for comment Tuesday. He will bury his son today.

quote:

Originally posted by OldArmyWOPA:
It would seem that a simple call to the Treasury or the Navy would have answered their questions. I don’t know which I think was the most incompetent the bank or the police. It would also, be interesting to know what the father told them. At any rate, it was a big SNAFU.

http://www.military.com/news/article/dead-sailors-fathe...f-forgery.html?wh=wh

quote:

Dead Sailor’s Father Accused of Forgery[/b]
June 04, 2008
Virginian-Pilot

The Navy is investigating the arrest of a grieving father who was jailed for several hours on suspicion of forgery after he tried to deposit a government check for his son's death benefits.

Seaman Daniel Mayberry, a 21-year-old sailor aboard the Little Creek-based dock landing ship Carter Hall, died May 27 of injuries suffered in a car accident on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach.

On Friday, his father, John E. Mayberry, tried to deposit the $100,000 U.S. Treasury Department check at a branch of Texas State Bank in Harlingen , Texas. The bank's staff suspected the check was phony and called police, who arrested Mayberry. The Navy intervened to have him released after six hours behind bars and the charges have now been dropped, said Cmdr. Flex Plexico, a spokesman for the Bureau of Naval Personnel.

Although Mayberry was finally allowed to deposit the check Monday after the Secret Service stepped in, questions remain.

"Our priority is to make sure the Mayberry family has the support they need," Plexico said. The Navy is working with local authorities "to find out as much as we can about how this could have happened."

He said he has never heard of another such case. The Defense Department pays death benefits to a service member's next of kin to help with funeral expenses and provide additional support.

Cody Sparks, the bank's district retail executive, said the bank was simply following protocol meant to protect consumers. The bank contacted the U.S. Treasury Department and was told that the check was fraudulent, he said. At that point, he said, the bank was legally obligated to call the police. It was the police officers' decision to arrest Mayberry, he contended.

"Texas State Bank did not make the decision to arrest him," Sparks said. "In general, this is just an unfortunate incident."

The Harlingen Police Department confirmed Mayberry's arrest, but a spokesperson did not return phone calls seeking further comment.

Patti Correa of Newport News, a military spouse and mother who has worked in banking, said she thinks the bank should have taken further steps to help Mayberry and verify the check's authenticity.

"He went in saying, 'I lost my son, and this is the check,' " said Correa, who is involved in military support groups such as Blue Star Families of Hampton Roads. "I think they should've investigated it further before they called the police. That just caused more harm to him in his emotional state."

Mayberry could not be reached for comment Tuesday. He will bury his son today.

quote:

Mayberry could not be reached for comment Tuesday. He will bury his son today.

quote:

Mayberry could not be reached for comment Tuesday. He will bury his son today.