Cops say man took mother’s electronics, wouldn’t give them back until she paid him
A Forsyth County man is in jail after officials said he intimidated his 73-year-old mother out of money.
Thomas Mitchell McCollum, 28, was arrested Sunday at his mother’s home in the western part of the county, sheriff’s office spokesman Cpl. Doug Rainwater confirmed. Forsyth deputies were sent to the home regarding a domestic dispute.
When they arrived, McCollum’s mother told them her son had been taking her electronics items, TVs and iPad and hiding them. He would then demand money from her before returning them, she told authorities.
The demands came in the form of intimidating and threatening text messages, Rainwater confirmed. He said if the demands weren’t met, McCollum would ask for even more money with a new payment deadline. If that amount wasn’t paid by his deadline, McCollum would increase the demand again, Rainwater said.
McCollum also allegedly blocked his mother’s car from leaving the driveway for two days until she agreed to go to the ATM with him and withdraw money, according to Rainwater.
The mother’s phone corroborated all of the claims.
McCollum was charged with one felony count of exploitation/intimidation of an elderly person. He was booked into the Forsyth jail, where he remains on a $5,630 bond, jail records show.
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About the Author
Asia Simone Burns is a watchdog reporter for the AJC. Burns was formerly an intern in AJC’s newsroom and now writes about crime. She is a graduate of Samford University and has previously reported for NPR and WABE, Atlanta’s NPR member station.
