PANAMA CITY -- Police have arrested two alleged counterfeiters after trying to spend funny money at a drive-in restaurant across the street from their operation’s headquarters, according to the Panama City Police Department.
Curtis Latrell Scruggs and Glenn A. Ford were arrested Saturday after police brought an employee of the Sonic Drive-in at 3407 West Highway 98 across the street to identify the men who’d tried to pass off fake money. Police also found various counterfeiting devices in the room before the two men were taken to Bay County Jail.
The employee confronted Scruggs about the fake money when he attempted to pay with it. Scruggs attempted to get the bill back but when the employee would not return it, Scruggs fled across the street to room 114 of the Fairway Inn.
Officers made contact with Scruggs at the room, which also was occupied by Ford. The Sonic employee was brought across the street and positively identified Scruggs. The employee also identified Ford as the person who passed a counterfeit bill earlier that same day.
Police found an all-in-one copier/printer, paper matching the paper the bills were printed on and a pair of scissors in the room. In the trashcan, detectives also located paper trimmings from the printed bills.
After the completion of the investigation, Scruggs was charged with three counts of forgery and one count of uttering a forged instrument. Ford was charged with one count of uttering a forged instrument. Both subjects were transported to the Bay County Jail.