An Alexandria man was arrested Tuesday, March 7, for allegedly trying to pass $100 counterfeit bills in Rice.
James Earl Meyer, 53, allegedly attempted to pass $100 counterfeit bills at a Rice area hardware store, but the clerk refused to take it.
About 6:35 p.m., the Rice Police Department received a description of Meyer’s vehicle and learned he had headed toward Highway 10.
At 6:45 p.m., a Benton County deputy on routine patrol near a convenience store in Rice on Highway 10, noticed a vehicle turn around in the store parking lot, and head toward Highway 10 without its lights on. The deputy pulled the driver over. The deputy allegedly saw the driver throw something out the window.
The deputy was contacted by the Rice Police Department because the description of the vehicle the deputy had stopped matched the description of Meyer’s vehicle. A few minutes later, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the convenience store that the man the deputy had stopped had just been in the store and allegedly attempted to pass a counterfeit $100 bill.
The deputy allegedly discovered the object thrown out of the vehicle was a tissue containing several counterfeit bills, and arrested Meyer for possessing the counterfeit currency and took him to the Benton County Jail.
Any business that believes counterfeit currency has been passed in the store over the last few days is encouraged to contact local law enforcement or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 255-1301, www.tricountycrimestoppers.org or by texting TRITIP to 274637.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office believes the two Rice businesses were not the only two allegedly targeted by Meyer.