Eureka Springs police arrested a man Saturday in connection with counterfeiting money, according to a Tuesday news release.
Tristan J. Jeffries, 43, of Lamar, Mo., was arrested on five counts of first-degree forgery, criminal possession of a forgery device and four misdemeanor offenses, according to the release.
A motel owner in Eureka Springs called police after Jeffries paid for a room with fake $20s, according to the release. Police searched for Jeffries and found him about an hour later.
Police found a large number of counterfeit bills in the trunk of Jeffries' vehicle, the release says. Police also found stolen license plates, fake drivers' licenses and counterfeit printing equipment and supplies.
Police searched Jeffries' motel room and found "overwhelming evidence of massive counterfeiting of $100, $50, $20 and $10 dollar bills," according to the release.
Fayetteville police have fielded several calls about counterfeit bills circulating, according to police dispatch logs.
Three University of Arkansas basketball players were arrested July 22 after police said they tried to make purchases with counterfeit money. Anton Beard, Jacorey Williams and Dustin Thomas were arrested after police said they were identified on surveillance video passing counterfeit money July 17 and 18 at Fayetteville businesses.
The three were placed on indefinite suspension from the team July 22.
Sgt. Craig Stout, Fayetteville police spokesman, said in an email Tuesday he didn't know if the Eureka Springs incident is related to any counterfeiting crimes in Fayetteville.
Jeffries was at the Carroll County Detention Center with a $5,000 bond set on the forgery offense and a hold for another agency Tuesday, according to online records. The news release said Jeffries was wanted on felony warrants from Missouri when he was apprehended.
NW News on 08/05/2015