Counterfeit money has been used in Jackson County – and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in reference to the false funds.
According to the sheriff’s office, on Friday, December 24, shortly after 6 p.m., deputies responded to the Marianna Wal-Mart in reference to a counterfeit money complaint.
When backup deputies arrived, they met with another deputy who was already in the area of Wal-Mart and who had detained a suspect, who law enforcement said initially provided a false name, but was later positively identified as Spencer Lamar Lonon.
The report from the sheriff’s office said that while in the store, Lonon was known to have made at least two transactions using the counterfeit money; the first transaction was for an iPhone, and the second transaction was at a different register for a set of binoculars.
Wal-Mart associates learned of the incidents during the second transaction.
The sheriff’s office says the first deputy was already present in the store and remembered seeing Lonon, leading to the deputy locating him in the store, and detaining him.
After being located, Lonon was taken to the store’s asset protection office, where he identified himself under a false name.
Deputies report that Lonon then produced money from an envelope which contained what deputies believe to have been a mixture of counterfeit money as well as legitimate United States currency.
After learning his correct identity, several files in the Wal-Mart system matched his name in regards to previous incidents.
Lonon was also confirmed to have warrants out of Lowndes and Colquitt Counties in Georgia.
The suspect’s vehicle was located in a nearby parking lot, and deputies report that inside his vehicle, suspected counterfeit money and Wal-Mart merchandise could be seen in plain view.
The vehicle was impounded for further investigation.
During the investigation, the suspect attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly apprehended without further incident.
Lonon was charged with uttering a counterfeit banknote, false identification given to law enforcement and resisting an officer without violence.
Ashley Hunter – editor@prioritynews.net
