Two men were arrested for passing, or attempting to pass, counterfeit currency in two separate incidents over the weekend. According to Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, 29-year-old Gregory Wiley, of Berryville, and 31-year-old Garson Alexander Dodge were both arrested on felony charges with a $5,000 bond. Wiley remains in custody. Dodge was released after posting the bond.The first incident occurred Friday evening. Sheriffs Corporal Rockie Morrell was dispatched to the Junction Liquor Store in Big Flat on a complaint a man had tried to pass a counterfeit $20 bill. The man was said to have picked up a bottle of liquor from the shelf, brought it to the counter, and then tried to pay with a $20 bill stamped copy on the back of it. The clerk refused to accept the bill, and the man left the store.
The incident was recorded on the security video system, and Wiley’s image was saved. He got into a silver passenger car and drove from the parking lot heading into Searcy County.
Some time later, the Marshall Police Department, in Searcy County, made contact with Wiley after finding him to be the passenger inside another vehicle. Authorities had taken a separate complaint that juveniles tried to pass another counterfeit $20 at a business in Marshall.
Wiley was taken into custody in Searcy County. He was later transferred to the Baxter County Detention Center and booked on a felony charge of Forgery.
The second incident occurred early Saturday morning. Sheriffs Sergeant Dwight Duch was dispatched to the Royal 66 Club near Mountain Home at approximately 12:14. The owner reported he had received a counterfeit $100 bill a customer had attempted to pass at the bar. The phony bill had the words for motion picture use only on the front. The suspect was still at the establishment and was pointed out to Duch.
The suspect was identified as Dodge of rural Mountain Home. After being contacted, he allegedly admitted knowing that the $100 bill was fake. He was subsequently transported to the Baxter County Detention Center and booked on one felony forgery charge.
Both Wiley and Dodge are scheduled to appear in Baxter County Circuit Court.
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