Man Accused Of Passing Counterfeit $100s In Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, NJ — An Asbury Park man has been charged with passing counterfeit money in Lakewood, police said Thursday.

Irwin Greene, 48, was arrested Thursday in connection with an incident Wednesday at the Gourmet Glatt, 1700 Madison Ave., Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

Police were called Wednesday after a cashier at the store realized a man was attempting to pay for his items with what was believed to be a counterfeit U.S. $100 bill, Staffordsmith said. The cashier was aware that a patron had passed several counterfeit bills a few days earlier and recognized the man had been in the store on the same days those bogus bills were passed.

The cashier refused to accept the bill, gave it back to the man and escorted him to the door. The cashier told Officer Cameron Rose that the suspect tried to assault him before running away. As a result, several other employees began to briefly chase the man but couldn't keep up with him.

Rose was able to secure video footage of the event inside the store, Staffordsmith said, and police officers and detectives recognized Greene immediately.

Greene was seen near the Lakewood Community Center on Fourth Street just before 9:30 a.m. Thursday and the detectives, Cavallo, Dennis and Donnelly, arrested him without incident, Staffordsmith said.

Greene, who had several outstanding warrants, is facing multiple charges in connection with the counterfeit bills but Staffordsmith said the total number of charges was not available because the investigation is ongoing.

Greene is being held in the Ocean County Jail pending additional charges.

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