Police Use Iron Bowl For Sting Operation

A sheriff in Lee County, Alabama set up a sting operation using the Auburn-Alabama Iron Bowl as a way to catch local residents with outstanding warrants alleging unpaid child support. The sheriff sent out "You Have Won!" letters telling these residents they had won Iron Bowl tickets, and believe it or not, a dozen suspects showed up to claim their tickets. When they arrived to a storefront filled with balloons and banners deputies in Auburn and Alabama shirts met the excited winners holding their letters and photo IDs.

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"Because Auburn had such a tremendous season, we thought we'd send letters out telling people we were giving away Iron Bowl tickets," said Capt. Van Jackson from the Sheriff's Office.

"It was an idea that just grew out of conversations here at the agency," Jackson said. "We wanted to do something because we had some very large outstanding child-support warrants, and we wanted to come up with a sting operation to lure those people in. Obviously with the (football) season coming up, the timing was important."

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And best quote of the story...

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"They were very excited, right up to the point where we got them in the back and put the cuffs on them," Jackson said.

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