A 34-year-old man was arrested in connection with the use of three counterfeit bills in East Ridge, police said.
Ralph Elisha Long was charged with three counts of criminal simulation after police said he passed or tried to pass the bills at three separate locations on Tuesday, according to East Ridge police spokesman Officer Erik Hopkins. The counterfeit bills were presented at Bojangles Famous Chicken and Biscuits, Checkers and Sonic Drive-In, he said.
Long is scheduled to in East Ridge Municipal Court on Feb. 22, Hopkins said.
Employees of the Checkers restaurant at 4348 Ringgold Road reported a man tried to pass a counterfeit bill, police said. The man left in a green Nissan Maxima and officers later saw the car in the parking lot of the Dollar Tree at 5084 South Terrace, Hopkins said.
Long was seen entering the store, where he was arrested without incident.
Two counterfeit $10 bills were found in Long’s possession and he was transported to Hamilton County Jail, Hopkins said.
The investigation is ongoing and more charges are expected, he said.