THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 26, 1996 TAG: 9607260425
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 26 lines
A man claiming to be the head supervisor for a Richmond roofing company was arrested Thursday after operating what police called a construction scam in at least three sections of the city.
Gary A. Barker, 26, of Hopewell was charged with working a profession without a license. He was taken to Western Tidewater Regional Jail and released after posting $2,500 bail Thursday afternoon.
Police spokesman Mike Simpkins said Barker had done work on Lake Point, Kings Fork and Turlington roads recently. In the latest incident, he had given a 79-year-old Turlington Road resident a $700 estimate to repair his roof, then tore off the shingles and told the man it would cost $4,400, Simpkins said.
Barker said he was working for Southern Roofing of Richmond, but company officials denied any affiliation with him, police said.
Anyone who has had work done by Barker or anyone claiming to work for Southern Roofing or Southern Roofing and Home Repair Co. is asked to call Suffolk Detective D.J. Greene at 925-6350.
KEYWORDS: SCAM FRAUD CONSTRUCTION by CNB