Crime & Safety
Police: City Man Used Phony $50-Bill at Store
Bethlehem man used counterfeit $50-bill to buy a $1.79 bottle of juice at SouthSide convenience store, police say.
A 20-year-old city man admitted to police he knew his $50 bill was counterfeit when he used it to pay for a $1.79 bottle of juice at a SouthSide store.
Robert Anthony Lawrence of 519 First Ave. was charged with forgery – a second-degree felony -- in connection with the incident Tuesday night at Taylor Family Mini-Mart, 309 S. New St.
Court records say police were called to the store around 6:45pm for a report of a male attempting to use counterfeit currency.
A store clerk told police the male – later identified as Lawrence – brought a $1.79 bottle of juice to the counter and handed him a $50 bill. The clerk said he checked the bill and determined it was counterfeit.
City officer Matthew Laxton, who filed a criminal complaint, said he examined the bill and “several factors confirmed it was counterfeit.” The complaint does not list the factors.
Laxton said he spoke to Lawrence. After being read his Miranda rights, Lawrence admitted he knew the bill was fake before trying to buy the juice.
The complaint does not say where Lawrence obtained the fake bill.
Lawrence was arraigned later Tuesday night by on-duty District Judge Todd Strohe of Bangor and committed to Northampton County Prison after failing to post $5,000 bail.
