A woman told police Wednesday that she believes a man she hired to file a malpractice lawsuit for her is not really a lawyer.

The woman said that she had back surgery and the surgeon made a mistake and injured her during the operation. She allowed the same doctor to try to repair the mistake, and he only made it worse, she told police.

She asked her family doctor for the name of a lawyer who might represent her in a malpractice suit. He introduced her to a friend, she said, and recommended him.

At the first meeting, she gave the man $500 to initiate the lawsuit. Later, she gave him another $1,500, the woman told police. The lawyer scheduled many meetings but rarely showed up at them, she said. She became suspicious when she learned that the car her lawyer is driving actually belongs to the doctor, according to the police report.

She checked with the state bar association and learned they have no attorney listed by the name the man uses.

She has given him all her personal identification information, she said, and she fears that her identity may be stolen.

Other reports

2200 South Loop 288 — An employee of a check-cashing business called police Wednesday to report a man was trying to cash a check made out to him in the name of his former wife, and the wife would not verify the check.

The employee said the man was trying to cash a check for $160. It was the third such check he had brought to the business, the employee said, and he called the writer to verify it.

The woman told police that she and the man were married three years ago but have been separated since he was released from jail in March. She served him with divorce documents this week, she said, and left keys to her apartment and storage unit so he could retrieve his belongings.

She believes he stole checks from her apartment and has been forging her signature on them.

Roundup

From 7 a.m. Wednesday to 7 a.m. Thursday:

• Denton police handled 309 service and officer-initiated calls, including three reports of criminal mischief, two vehicle thefts, one forgery, two frauds, two assaults, four thefts, four home burglaries, one case of possession of marijuana and one assault.

• Denton County sheriff’s dispatchers handled 246 service and officer-initiated calls for the agencies they serve. Fifty people were booked into county jail. Deputies took reports of two vehicle burglaries, one assault, one violation of a protective order and one theft.

• Denton firefighters responded to 14 medical calls, one request to assist an invalid, two traffic accidents, one gas leak, one request for public service, two false alarms, one trash fire and one smoke investigation.

Lake Cities firefighters responded to one traffic accident and two medical calls.

Pilot Point firefighters responded to two medical calls and one request to unlock a vehicle.

Aubrey firefighters responded to one request for mutual aid, one hay fire, one alarm and three medical calls.

Sanger firefighters responded to one smoke investigation, one fire and one medical call.

Argyle firefighters responded to one traffic accident and one request to assist a citizen.

Krum firefighters responded to one medical call.

Ponder firefighters responded to one medical call.

DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com .

Denton County Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in these or other crimes. Callers will remain anonymous. Call 1-800-388-TIPS (8477). To receive crime alerts in your area, visit www.CrimeWeb.net .