A Flomaton woman was arrested July 18 and charged with one count felony passing a counterfeit bill when she attempted to pay for gasoline in Century.
Mary Pauline Champion, 37, 293 Mize Road, attempted to buy fuel at the Marathon Gas Station, located at 8360 North Century Boulevard, by pre-paying with bills that the store clerk, Joyce Hawthorne, said were counterfeit bills, according to an Escambia County (Fla.) Sheriff's office report.
The officer was dispatched to the Dollar General on Century Boulevard and made contact with Champion, who told the officer that the clerk informed her the money was counterfeit.
The report said Champion and the officer returned to the gas station and located the counterfeit $50 bill, $10 bill and two $5 bills in a blue garbage can.
Located in Champion's purse were a $20, a $10, a $5 and three $1 authentic bills, the report said. Hawthorne stated to the officer under oath that Champion came into the store to pay for some gas and pulled out what Hawthorne determined to be counterfeit a $50 bill, a $10 and two $5s. Hawthorne stated Champion then gave her $10 of real money for the gas, the report said.
Champion was followed to the Dollar General when law enforcement was called out.
Champion was arrested, charged with attempting to utter counterfeit money and transported to the Escambia County Jail with a bond of $5,000.
