Indianapolis women arrested in local counterfeit scheme
BAINBRIDGE -- Two Indianapolis women were recently taken into custody in Parke County after being found to have used fake currency in northern Putnam County.
Chief Officer Ronnie Campbell of the Bainbridge Police Department was first contacted late last month by the manager of the Bainbridge Casey’s General Store about possible counterfeited money. A local man used a fake $10 bill, but it was determined he had likely received it as change from the Dollar General in Bainbridge.
According to his narrative, Campbell was then contacted by the Dollar General manager on June 6. The manager stated that a woman with short, dark hair and a white tank top had bought a phone card with three fake $10 bills which had the same serial number.
The manager showed Campbell a video of the transaction, and both noted that the woman left in a small red car. The manager also said the same female had come in previously on May 28 and also possibly used three other fake $10 bills. Campbell notes that these bills were retained by Tri-County Bank & Trust.
Campbell was contacted the next day by the Bainbridge Casey’s in reference to fake currency. He notes that three bills used in this instance had the same serial number as those at Dollar General. The same female was in the Casey’s at this time, and was accompanied by another woman with long, red hair and glasses.
The Casey’s manager then notified Campbell again on June 9. He said the woman initially in question had tried to use another fake $10 bill, but was refused service. After being told that store policy was to retain fake currency, both women left in a small red car.
Campbell noted that he followed the vehicle to the Casey’s General Store in Roachdale. As he approached the entrance, he saw the woman with red hair inside the car, while the woman with a white tank top was in the checkout line. As the latter came out, Campbell told both he was investigating fake currency. He notes that the latter became nervous and started rambling.
The two women were identified as Alissa Hale, 23, and Chastity Combs, 36, both of Indianapolis.
At this time, Campbell was contacted by Assistant Chief Brent Allison of the Danville Police Department. Allison advised Campbell that detectives in Parke County had filed charges against both Hale and Combs and were “working a case” against them.
Combs then claimed she had possibly received the counterfeited money from a man she did mechanic work for, in which he paid her $100 in $10 bills. Campbell notes that Combs told him she had “a lot of information” to get “bigger people.” Combs then blurted out two different names, their possible phone numbers and that they were staying at a Quality Inn in Indianapolis.
Campbell then requested that the vehicle be searched, which Combs allowed. Roachdale Town Marshal Adrian Lepine and Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Ducker then came and did so, in which they found receipts for items paid for with the fake $10 bills. However, no counterfeits were found.
Chief Deputy Jason Frazier of the Parke County Sheriff’s Department then arrived and took both Hale and Combs into custody, and also took the receipts for evidence. The vehicle was also towed to Parke County.
Campbell wrote to the Banner Graphic that Parke County law enforcement served a search warrant later in the day. They found $1,200 in counterfeit money, as well as a printing machine. It is not clear if others were involved.
Combs was formally charged with counterfeiting, a Level 6 felony, on Friday in Putnam County Superior Court. Hale has not faced any charges as of Monday afternoon.