On January 5th, 2021, officers were dispatched in response to a report of a man attempting to cash a fraudulent check. >> What's going on? >> We have a fraudulent check. >> Okay. >> We spoke with the owner of the check and they washed it. They took off the name, wrote another name. >> Okay. >> And they said they wanted them arrested for it. >> Okay. >> Well, it is verified 100% right. >> Who are the people? >> They're the people in the back seat right there. >> Which one of them gave you the check? >> The one in the passenger seat. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> You're good. >> Yes, sir. We'll just be right here on the sidewalk if you need us. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Sounds good. Hey, what's going on, man? Hey, so what's up with the check? >> Somebody named gave me the check. Apparently he owed me money. >> Okay. >> And >> What did he owe you money for? >> Work for him. >> Okay. >> Uh that's my money and there's my name right there and there's my name right there. >> Okay. Got you. >> If they don't want to cash it, they don't have to, but it's in my name. >> Right. No, I got I got you. I got it. It says it's your name on here, so we're just we're just trying to figure out cuz it's a large amount, you know, so they're just trying to verify it everything with it. So So what the the eating people gave you this um because you were doing some work for them. Is that right? Okay. Got you. Just uh can you step out for me real quick? >> What for? >> Step out of the vehicle, please. I didn't say you have. I just asked you to step out, please. Mhm. That's all right. Turn around. You're not under arrest right now, okay? Just be uh Just be detained right now, okay? I didn't say you're under arrest right now. We got to further investigate this a little bit, and then we're going to go from there, okay? So, we're just going to have a seat in the back. >> investigating me. You're not detaining me or arresting me if you put this on me and >> detained. Okay? >> Oh my god, man. >> Yes, sir. Walk this way. >> Oh man, is this for real? This is [ __ ] >> Sir, do you have any weapons on you, sir? Okay. May I pat you down real quick? All right. We look into it a little bit further, everything's good, then you'll be good to go, okay, man? >> I got it from somebody okay, so I don't know Man, come on, dude. Listen. >> I I hear you. >> can you arrest me? >> Here, come on. >> Let me ask you a serious question. >> I don't Just have a seat, and then we can talk. >> listening to me. >> I'm absolutely listening to you. I heard everything you said. >> the cop car. I've been to jail before. I know how this goes. This The state of Georgia versus me, and nobody cares what I got to say. >> That's not true. >> Until I go in front of a judge, right? >> No. What I'm going to do is I'm going to call a detective, and you can speak with them, okay? If you're willing to. >> What do you mean by that? >> So, here, have a seat in the car, please. >> Willing to do what? For I did some drywall work for somebody. A hell of a lot of drywall work, and they gave me that check for the work. >> Okay. >> And I don't even know his whole name. His name is Elton. >> Okay. All right, just have a seat in the car, and we'll go from there. Like I said, you're not under arrest right now. >> I haven't signed anything. I haven't What are you Why are you detaining me? Just because I tried to cash a check that's It's got my name on it, right? >> Sir, please sit down. >> I'm trying to talk to you, and you're trying to arrest me. >> I'm not. If you're When you're under arrest, I will let you know. >> Yes, I am. Oh my god, man. Aw, man. >> Do you guys have the account owner's like phone number and stuff? >> I can get that for you. >> call want to step right in here and we can get it for you. >> Sure. Hey, I'll be right back. Did they give you the name of the person they had originally written that check out to? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And I'll I'll have I have to call her back anyway, so I'll let her know you're going to be calling. >> Okay. Yeah, that sounds good. So there's a name and the date. Yeah, if she gets a random phone call from a strange number. All right, thank you guys. Yeah, actually let me get one of your guys' info, too. Do you guys have like a card or something? >> Here, I'll write my cell phone number on the check. >> Yeah, cell phone and your birthday, please. Hey, this is uh Peterson. I'm on the street right now. Um Skinner gave me your number. Um but I was wondering do you guys deal with um like check fraud at all? It's Oh, yeah, it's 12,810. I know I know because they've come out before, that's why. Okay. Um do you have a anyone in financial crimes we can contact cuz I have have the suspect detained in my vehicle. Yeah. Okay. Sounds good. And it sounds like he's willing to to talk, so. Heritage Bank on Stevenson? All right, thank you. Yep. Hello. So, um what he did is he's got the he claims he got the check from somebody named Elton um which is similar to the name on the check, but not the exact name um for doing some like construction type work. Um what the bank says that he did is that he washed the name off of the check, wrote his name on there and um tried to cash it um because what they did is they called the owner, the account owner on the check and they write a check for this amount every month to like their mother that's in a nursing home or something like that. And um and that they that they did not write this guy a check for this amount. Oh, yeah, and he's and I asked, "Well, whose name is this on the checks?" I couldn't really read it. You can You can tell something was erased, I mean, you know, cuz it's in ink. You know, and I said it's his name on there. But, he's like, "Oh, if they they can't cash it, no big deal." You know. Yeah. But, you can also see where it says four, it says Eaton B32, which I believe would be the room number for where the the mother is staying at whatever at Bryan County uh Health and Rehab is who it was supposed to be written out to. That's what was erased from the check. Okay, appreciate it. Yep. Bye. I'm waiting for financial crimes. So, she was able to get a hold of somebody, so they're going to come out, sounds like. >> Nice. >> The bank's idea is the one that handed it to him, so. Do you have like their information, at least? >> I'll get their information. >> Yeah, just get their basic info. I mean, I don't think they're too involved. Hey, man. So, right now we're waiting for one of our financial crimes detectives to come out. Um and then >> Okay. >> they'll speak to you from there, and then >> how's this work? If somebody pays me with a check, right? >> Uh-huh. So, I I'm going to let you speak to them because they're going to kind of take it over from here, so. >> I don't know if I should talk because all every check I've ever cashed has went through, and I've never had a this happen to me. This is crazy. >> Okay, I got you. >> a hundred not well, not a hundred, but at least twenty checks next door to her for Pat Carroll, who's been a county commissioner out here forever. >> Okay, I'm just trying to give you an update of where we're at, okay, man? So. >> me. I haven't done nothing wrong. >> All right. >> They actually want me to detain for trying to cash a check with my name on it. I don't work for him. Fair? >> Yeah, cuz there's some suspicion there might be some fraudulent activity. >> Okay. >> But, like I said, you're not under arrest right now. Right now we're going to go to the precinct, and you can either choose to speak with a detective there or not. That's up to you. Okay? But they're the person to talk to. Uh >> About what? >> The financial crime potential fraud aspect to all this cuz >> The the potential of it. It It's only a potential then why am I being detained and taken to a >> Cuz we have to investigate what's going on. And handcuffs Handcuffs can come off just as easily as they come on. So >> I understand that, sir. I work for all kinds of people and illegal immigrants and [ __ ] And the dude I got that check from was a Mexican. You don't ever know none of their real names. They can tell you who they are. This shit's crazy, man. I'll work for that money. And now here I am in the back of a cop car. I've never cashed a bad check in my life. >> Okay. >> I didn't even know you could be arrested for cash a check. I just thought if it didn't work You know what I mean? >> Okay. >> And what is this this They tell you take this check somewhere don't It ain't no good. It's not going through. I don't understand what's going on right now. >> Okay. Well, that's what they're going to They're going to just >> what's going on and I Oh my god. So somebody could rip me off and now I'm got to rip doing rip that now. Yeah. Wow. I've gotten checks my whole life. From other people. And this never happened. >> Mhm. But that's why I've told you as of right now you're not under arrest because we're still trying to figure out everything going on up there. And that's why I've called a financial crimes detective cuz they know more about this kind of thing than I do. So that's a that's a benefit to you. >> Oh. >> Cuz they deal with this kind of stuff every day. I don't. So >> I don't know what the hell is going on right now. I got woke up out of bed this morning. I was supposed to be going to get my check cashed for the money that I worked for. >> Mhm. >> What's going on, man? I mean I don't know. Now you want to let me go and stuck here in Savannah with nowhere to go. >> Where do you live? >> Bryan County. >> Bryan County. >> I don't even know the address there, either. I just got there a couple weeks ago. >> Uh-huh. >> I've been working and sleeping and working and sleeping and working and sleeping. Worn out and tired and exhausted. All I can say is I worked for it. >> Uh, you should be able to take your cuffs off for a bit inside here, too. >> By the way, I got CBD in my pocket. It's not illegal, is it? >> I don't think so. >> No, I didn't think it was, either. They sell it. >> I don't know. >> No, I didn't >> Not if they sell it in stores. >> Okay, yeah, I bought it at a store. It's got a barcode on everything. >> Then it should be fine. >> I'll get >> I'll get the door. So, keep walking. Yeah. >> I just told him that three times in a row. He tried to make it sound like I wasn't saying that to him. And he twisted it around. That was wrong, man. >> Well, your interview with him would be recorded, too. So, I mean, all that, you know, will be available to you. One second, okay? Oh my gosh. You snuck up on me. >> I can't believe he just told me you did this. They tried to make it sound like I told him that. >> Okay. >> He said he he is the guy that I was working for, not me, cuz I'm me. I didn't say I did it. So, what's going on with that? >> I don't I don't know, man. I didn't hear your whole interview, so. >> I know it's I just got gaslit. Where you trying to make me question my own reality of things I've been doing and how I got my money. But I tried to make me question my reality with what's really going on. And they asked me if I was crazy at the beginning to really have any mental disorder. As far as I know, not. [ __ ] after this I will. Oh, man. You probably a billion years in a penitentiary. Oh my god, dude. Sorry, have you ever done anything besides work before you were a police officer? Like that's one of the stories is they was like, "Hey, show up here." And they give you a check, you go to work, and you do that a million times in your life? >> Uh, no. I've never had that experience. >> those that the guy I work for in the county business, he gives me a personal check every week. >> Yeah. >> Personal checks. Do people sometimes people pay someone with a check, right? And they give you a check. Cuz it's their check. Cuz they work for him, man. Whatever, dude. I don't even know, man. This is crazy. This is why I got to go and see my kids cuz I asked somebody to go work for them. He's like, "This is yours." Like abs- like it's absolutely me, you know? >> Yeah. >> What the hell? How can you tell me that's mine? Y'all have no other professionals that are to take this and study handwriting? Sir? >> Uh, I don't believe we do. >> on it? That's how that works? That's nothing like my handwriting. >> The man was charged with forgery and receiving stolen property.