Clearlake >> An Oregon man is in jail after he allegedly tried to pass off a counterfeit bill at a grocery store, according to authorities.
At about 3:11 p.m., Clearlake police officers were dispatched to Ray’s Food Place, located at 15930 Dam Road, on a report of a white male suspect who had attempted to pass a counterfeit $100 bill, according to Sgt. Rodd Joseph of the Clearlake Police Department (CPD).
Officer Travis Parson arrived at the business and was notified by store employees that the suspect had just left on foot and was last seen wearing a blue jacket and camouflage pants.
Parson spotted a man matching the description walking westbound on Old Highway 53 after crossing Highway 53. The CPD officer contacted the suspect on Old Highway 53 near the intersection with Cache Creek Way.
He was identified as Christopher Alexander Hedge of Klamath Falls Oregon. Authorities report that Hedge, 25, admitted to using the counterfeit $100 bill to make a purchase, suspecting the bill to be counterfeit.
Hedge’s statements, however, were not consistent as to where he had obtained the counterfeit currency from, Joseph said. He was arrested and transported to the police department for processing.
During the investigation Parson reportedly learned that Hedge had successfully passed another counterfeit $100 bill at Ray’s Food Place a couple of hours earlier.
Hedge was later booked into the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility. He faces felony charges of burglary and possession of a forged note.
The case will also be forwarded to the United States Secret Service, which has federal jurisdiction on counterfeit U.S. currency investigations, for follow up.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Parson. He can be reached at )707) 994-8251 ext. 507.
