Two Arrested After Attempting To Pass Counterfeit Cash

Two local men were arrested after the Columbus Police Department investigated a report of counterfeit money at a fast-food restaurant.

Police were called to the McDonald's restaurant, located at 1880 N. National Rd., at about 6:45 a.m. Thursday on a report of a customer attempting to pass counterfeit currency. Columbus Public Safety Spokesman Matt Myers says that upon arrival, officers spoke with employees who informed them a person had tried to pay for a drive-thru food order with a $100 bill. After receiving the bill from the customer, the employee working the window examined the bill and found it to be fake. The employee gave the bill back to the customer and told them the bill was not real. The customer reportedly presented another bill that was found to be legitimate. After getting the food order, the customer parked in the restaurant's parking lot.

Officers Rusty Imlay, John Thompson and Kelly Holley arrived and began investigating. After making contact with the subjects in the vehicle officers located counterfeit currency on two individuals. Arrested were 34-year-old Jimmy D. Miller and 31-year-old Brandon Fields, both of Columbus. Each suspect is facing one preliminary felony charge of forgery-counterfeit. Both men were booked into the Bartholomew County Jail.

Myers says this investigation is ongoing and police detectives believe additional arrests could occur. He says police have  taken nine reports over the past two weeks with counterfeit money being passed. Most of the incidents are occurring at Wal-Mart, McDonald's and a Swifty gas station. CPD Det. Brian Plummer has been working with the U.S. Secret Service on this case.

Anyone with information regarding the manufacturing and or passing of counterfeit currency is asked to call police at 376-2600.