BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — An Inez woman was arrested Thursday after law enforcement said surveillance video showed her using a Johnson County man’s bank card to make about $2,000 in unauthorized purchases.
Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy David Adams arrested Rose Ellen Johnson, 54, at her Route 3 residence at 8:20 a.m. on a charge of fraudulent use of a credit card involving $1,000 to $10,000.
The arrest warrant alleges Johnson used the card to make multiple purchases at stores in Kentucky and Ohio between July 6 and July 27.
Martin County Sheriff John Kirk said the investigation began Tuesday when the cardholder came to his office and reported that his debit cards had been lost or stolen.
“He printed a report and found they had spent about $2,000,” Kirk said. “I think it was about $1,500 here in Martin County and some in South Shore, Kentucky, in Ohio, and different places — convenience stores, Dollar Store, Save-A-Lot.”
Kirk and Adams began checking surveillance footage from businesses where the card had been used. Video from a local convenience store showed a woman making a purchase with the card, Kirk said.
“We knew the lady,” Kirk said. “We identified her.”
Officers then obtained video from other stores that allegedly showed Johnson using the card at several locations in Martin County.
“We approached her and asked her about the credit card,” Kirk said. “She acted like she knew nothing about it and kept denying it even after we showed her a picture of her using it.”
Kirk said Johnson eventually produced the card after he told her she would be arrested if she did not turn it over.
“She did not know how she had gotten it,” Kirk said. “She said someone gave it to her, that she was authorized to use it, but she could not say who that person was.”
Johnson ultimately told investigators she found the man’s wallet at a Walmart and removed the bank card from it, according to Kirk.
The sheriff said the unauthorized purchases left the cardholder in a difficult financial position.
“This puts this young man in bad shape,” Kirk said. “I think his bank is going to take care of it, but they should not have to. If it is not yours, you do not use it. If you find a wallet, you return the wallet with all the contents.”
Previous burglary indictment
Johnson also has charges pending in Martin Circuit Court in connection with the February burglary of storage units in Inez.
A Martin County grand jury indicted her in April on charges of third-degree burglary, theft by unlawful taking or disposition of property valued at $1,000 to $10,000, possession of burglary tools and second-degree criminal mischief.
Police allege Johnson used bolt cutters to remove locks from several storage units Feb. 25 and Feb. 26 and took property from inside.
The items allegedly included a teal-colored gown valued at more than $1,000, a jewelry box, a flat-screen television and other property.
“We have video of her there,” Kirk said. “She denied that.”
An indictment is an accusation and does not establish guilt.
Sheriff pursuing mail-theft case
Kirk said his office is also pursuing a case stemming from Johnson’s September 2025 arrest on a charge of theft of mail matter.
In that case, police alleged Johnson removed packages from the top of the UPS drop box at Evans Hardware in Inez on two occasions.
Investigators reported reviewing surveillance footage that allegedly showed her taking packages Aug. 18 and Aug. 27, 2025.
“We have her on video three different times taking stuff that does not belong to her,” Kirk said. “She keeps doing this.”
Johnson remains in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center following Thursday’s arrest.
All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.