A man and two women arrested after allegedly using fake money, and a series of other crimes
The Western Valley Region RCMP reported two women and one man from Rockland, Sheffield, and Bairdsville face several charges in connection with an investigation into the use of counterfeit money in the Perth-Andover and Wotstak (Woodstock) First Nation regions.
Felicia Fulton, Victoria King, and Regis Bowmaster were charged in Woodstock Provincial Court via tele-remand on Jan. 5.
In a news release on Jan. 9, the RCMP said that the Western Valley Region detachment responded to reports of a string of crimes in several communities.
On Dec. 26, police said that an individual attempted to purchase cigarettes using counterfeit money at a business on Muwin Lane, on Wotstak First Nation.
The release said police received a report of an individual using counterfeit money to pay for gas at a business on Route 122 in Meductic on Jan. 1.
The RCMP said someone broke into a business in Hartland on Jan. 2, stealing several items. Police noted the vehicle used in the theft was a pickup truck stolen on Dec. 24.
On Jan. 4, police received another report that a woman had used counterfeit money to pay for gas at a business in Perth-Andover. The RCMP noted the woman passing the counterfeit bills was driving the same stolen truck involved in the Hartland theft.
The RCMP release said that later the same day, a member, while on patrol, located the stolen truck at a Perth-Andover residence.
“When members pulled into the driveway, three individuals began running towards the residence,” the RCMP said in the release.
Police pursued the individuals on foot, arresting a 30-year-old woman, a 22-year-old woman, and a 30-year-old man without incident.
After the arrests, police searched the residence and recovered many stolen items from the Hartland business.
On Jan 5, Bowmaster was charged with resisting or obstructing a peace officer and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. He was later released from custody and will appear in court at a later date.
King was charged with failure to comply with a release order and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. She remains in custody and was scheduled to return to court on Jan. 10.
Fulton was charged with theft of gas, possession of counterfeit money, using counterfeit money, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and failure to comply with a probation order. She remains in custody and returned to court on Jan. 8.
The RCMP said the investigation is continuing, and police are reminding local merchants and their employees to examine and verify any currency given to them and report suspicious bills.
For more information on detecting counterfeit bills and what to do if you receive one, visit the Bank of Canada’s webpage about counterfeit prevention.
