CALHOUN COUNTY (WKZO-AM) — The use of bogus $100 bills has resulted in multiple drug arrests by two separate police agencies in Calhoun County and, in both cases, it began with offers to sell shoes on Facebook.
Sheriff’s deputies say that a Sturgis man was handed a counterfeit $100 bill for his shoes, and rather than confront the man, the seller followed him back to his home in Pennfield Township. The victim then called police, who had to chase the suspect down.
They not only recovered the shoes, but discovered the suspect was dealing cocaine and heroin and had a number of outstanding warrants.
He was booked at the Calhoun County Jail pending arraignment.
In a strangely similar case, Battle Creek Police say a juvenile male sold his shoes to a subject at Lakeview Square Mall and wound up with a fake $100 bill. When he later saw his shoes advertised on Facebook, the victim arranged to buy them back and called police.
The officers were waiting when four male suspects appeared with the stolen shoes.
Once again they found drugs on the suspects. This time, it was crack and marijuana.
All four were arrested. A fifth suspect is being sought.