An investigation into the alleged passing of counterfeit cash at a Barstow business on Thursday resulted in the arrest of an armed ex-convict, police said.
The incident began about 1:30 p.m. with a report of a person using fake money to make a purchase at a business in the 2700 block of Tanger Way, according to the Barstow Police Department.
A witness provided police with a description of the suspect, as well as the license plate number of his car, the agency said in a written statement.
“Approximately thirty minutes later, BPD detectives located the vehicle driving east in the 2500 block of West Main Street,” the statement said.
Officers pulled over the car and detained the driver, identified as Tynan Lawrence, 31, of Barstow.
“During a search of Lawrence’s vehicle, officers located a loaded 9mm handgun,” according to the statement. “A records check of Lawrence revealed him to be a convicted felon, prohibited from possessing firearms.”
He was booked on suspicion of theft by false pretenses, petty theft with prior convictions for the same, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, county jail records show.
Bail was set at $30,000 pending an initial court appearance.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Ex-con arrested for passing counterfeit cash, gun possession in Barstow
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
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