PORT TOWNSEND — Police seek a man who allegedly passed off at least five counterfeit $100 bills to downtown Port Townsend merchants late Wednesday afternoon, authorities said today.
The FBI is expected to come in to investigate the case, police said.
Police Sgt. Ed Green said the suspect, who was still at large today, was described as a short, thin Hispanic man in his mid- to early 20s who was soft-spoken and polite.
“It should be said to anyone who gets one of these $100 bills to not be shy about inspecting them,” Green said.
Green said the department was putting out a warning through the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce to watch for the bills, and call police at 9-1-1.
Green and Patrol Officer Bill Corrigan who was called to the scene at about 5:12 p.m. Wednesday, said the bills were difficult to distinguish unless they were closely inspected. They carried some defects, including the fonts being bolder and paper was courser and thicker.
Green said merchants can obtain markers from their banks that will determine if a bill is fake, showing a certain color when the bill is marked.
Merchants reporting being handed fake bills included McDonald’s on East Sims Way and Earthenworks and Mad Hatter & Co. on Water Street.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
