Crime & Safety

Vernon Police Hook Bad Ben Franklin Impersonators Off the Stage

A police report says a trio tried to pass a fake $100 bill at a local store.

Three people are facing criminal charges after trying to pass a phony $100 bill at a local convenience store early Wednesday morning, Vernon police said. 

At 1:17 a.m. on Wednesday, Vernon police received a complaint from the Cumberland Farms store located at 333 Talcottville Rd.

Police said the clerk reported that a 17-year-old girl entered the store and attempted to pay for "a small purchase" with a $100 bill. 

The clerk recognized the bill as fake and refused the sale, at which time the female grabbed the items she was attempting to purchase and fled the store, according to a police report. 

The female entered a vehicle being driven by Donell Cook of Brooklyn, NY.
Cook was also seen urinating on the building by the clerk, police said. The store opened just recently. 

Cook then hit a post in the parking lot with his vehicle before leaving the scene, police said. 

The vehicle was stopped a short time later, according to a police report. An "additional quantity" of fraudulent $100 bills was located in the vehicle, police said. 

A third person in the vehicle, initially thought be be named Isaih Campbell but later identified by an FBI fingerprint check as Matthew Blades, also of Brooklyn, was arrested for his involvement in the incident and for possession of marijuana, police said. 

Cook also initially gave out a false name and he and Blades were charged with criminal impersonation, police said. 

They were to to appear in Rockville Superior Court on Wednesday after being held in lieu of $25,000 surety bonds, police said.

The 17-year-old is considered a juvenile and her name is not being released by police, per state law. 

Police said the formal charges against her are: 

• Sixth-degree larceny
• Conspiracy to commit forgery, first-degree

Police said Cook, 23, has been charged with:
 
• Conspiracy to commit forgery, first-degree
• Breach of peace
• Evading an accident
• Criminal impersonation
• Interfering with an investigation

Police said Blades, 23, has been charged with: 

• Conspiracy to commit forgery, first-degree
• Criminal impersonation
• Interfering with an investigation
• Marijuana possession 
• Tampering with physical evidence

The store is at the intersection of Talcottville Road - state Route 83 - and Hockanum Boulevard. 


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