The Elizabethtown Police Department made an arrest in a case involving counterfeit currency. John Sylvester Clax, who initially identified himself to officers as John Sylvester Manning of Spring Lake, was arrested and charged with two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses, uttering a forged instrument, possession of counterfeit currency, and one count of obtaining property by false pretense and possession of counterfeit currency. He was also served with an additional warrant for failure to appear in court on a misdemeanor larceny charge.
He is being held in the Bladen County Jail under a $31,000 secured bond, according to Hester.
According to Interim Police Chief Kip Hester, officers received a call on Saturday, Feb. 20, from the Dollar General store located at 221 S. Poplar Street regarding someone attempting to pass counterfeit currency.
“Upon arrival the store clerk pointed out the suspect to officers and proceeded to tell the officer that the suspect attempted to pass a counterfeit one hundred dollar bill. While speaking with the store clerk the suspect ran out of the store and departed in a vehicle,” said Hester.
Elizabethtown Police Officer Eric Buffkin located the vehicle and arrested Clax.
Hester said after the initial arrest, officers were notified that Clax had also passed two counterfeit $100 bills at the CVS store the before his arrest.
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