Menards Spots Counterfeit $100s, Joliet Police Arrest 2

JOLIET, IL — A 20-year-old Markham and a 17-year-old boy were arrested Wednesday afternoon by Joliet police in connection with several counterfeit $100 bills that were furnished at the Menards in the 2500 block of West Jefferson Street, according to police.

Police later discovered the pair had furnished a fake $100 bill to a Joliet auto parts store earlier in the day, reports indicate.

Markham resident Demetri Ates was booked into Will County's Jail shortly before 7 p.m. on two counts of forgery. The 17-year-old juvenile was booked into the River Valley Justice Center on McDonough Street on two forgery charges as well.

Around 3:15 p.m., Menards notified Joliet police that two people tried to pass counterfeit cash inside their store on West Jefferson Street, but the pair ran off before store security guards could stop them, reports indicate.

Several blocks away, Joliet officers spotted the two suspects at the Delta Sonic Car Wash in the 1800 block of West Jefferson Street where they had been smoking marijuana inside their car, police reports show.

"The vehicle was searched at which time officers located four suspected counterfeit $100 bills all bearing the same serial number as well as a clear bag of cannabis in the center console," Joliet police announced. "Ates and the juvenile were positively identified by Menards staff."

As police searched the two suspects for drugs and weapons, three more counterfeit $100 bills were found in the possession of the 17-year-old boy, according to police.

Joliet police said they learned that earlier Wednesday, Ates and the 17-year-old went to the Advance Auto Parts store in the 400 block of East Cass Street and used one counterfeit $100 bill.

"Officers recovered an additional counterfeit $100 bill from this store as well," police reports indicate.