Brewton Police helped to shut down a ring of would-be counterfeiters Monday after the group tried to pass a fake $100 to area merchants throughout town.
Sgt. Patrick Caylor with the Brewton Police Department credited the arrests of four Tennessee residents to watchful clerks and quick response times from officers.
“Just before lunch Monday, just after 11 a.m., we got a number of 911 calls about a group trying to pass a counterfeit $100,” Caylor said. “Officer Toby Anthony was able to make contact with the group in the shopping area of Hibbett’s and Dollar Tree.
“When he attempted to pat down a male subject for officer safety, Officer Anthony located a large sum of money – about $2,000 – in the suspect’s pocket,” Caylor said. “That’s when the guy fled on foot.”
After a short foot pursuit, the suspect – identified later as Ronald Griggs of Memphis, Tenn. – was captured as he tried to pass himself off as a customer coming out of The Oak’s Café.
“While Mr. Griggs was being transported to the police department for questioning, Sgt. Wesley located a 2007 Ford Focus occupied by one male and two females,” he said.
Those three – Cedric Davis and Kadeshia Williams, both of Somerville, Tenn., and Kedaderic Springfield of Stanton, Tenn. – were taken into custody and charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument I and circulating changed bills. Griggs faces similar charges as well as attempting to elude.
“The clerks could tell the bill didn’t look right or feel right,” Caylor said. “They did the right thing and called 911.”
All four were booked into the Escambia County Detention Center.