Lavonia PD Charge Man With Attempting to Scam Local Animal Rescue

A man who posed as a homeless veteran with his dog last month has been arrested in Lavonia.

In July, volunteers with Hart County Animal Rescue were taken in by a man who said he was homeless and had left his dog tied up to a park bench in the hopes someone would help it.

Group founder Judy Partain and her volunteers went to work to help the man who said he was a Vietnam veteran who had been homeless for a year, had no job, no family, no income, only his dog and was looking for someone to take her.

His story went viral on social media and even made it to TV news in Greenville. Partain said as a result her organization received thousands of dollars in donations to help him.

But someone recognized him from the TV news reports and called Lavonia Police with the truth – he had family, the dog was not his, his ex-wife is alive and well and did not die of COVID-19, and his house did not burn down it was foreclosed on, and he was kicked out of the motel where he was staying in Hartwell.

On Thursday, Lavonia Police Chief Shane Edmisten announced they arrested the man, identified as Michael Walker.

According to Chief Edmisten, on July 24, Lavonia Police Department investigators interviewed Walker.

Initially, Walker denied the rescue’s claims but later admitted that he had lied about being a veteran, explaining that he feared he wouldn’t receive help otherwise.

Walker further confessed that, while he did not explicitly state his ex-wife, who is alive, had died from COVID-19, he was aware the rescue believed it and did not correct their assumption. It was also confirmed that Walker had not been living on the park bench as claimed.

Walker acknowledged receiving motel stays, food, and medicine from the rescue.

As a result of the investigation, warrants were obtained for Walker on charges of Obstruction of Law Enforcement and Theft by Deception.

The Chief said Walker was arrested on August 23 at the Citgo on Augusta Road in Lavonia and booked into the Franklin County Detention Center.

Edmisten said the Lavonia Police Department remains committed to protecting the community from fraud and deception.

He thanked Hart County Animal Rescue for their cooperation and encouraged any individuals who suspect fraudulent activity to contact Lavonia PD immediately before giving away their hard-earned money.

Partain said on the HCAR Facebook page that the money donated would be returned. However many donors who saw her post said to keep their donation and use it to help the animals.