Demopolis police arrest Mississippi pair for forged instruments
The Demopolis Police Department charged a Mississippi pair with two counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument Friday.
The Demopolis Police Department received a call from a local church pastor Friday, March 18 indicating that a subject was trying to cash a counterfeit check on the church.
DPD investigators contacted the bank to obtain a photo of the subject. While waiting for a response, investigators were notified that the subject was a bank in Linden trying to cash another check. The DPD notified the Linden Police Department to check the area for the suspect and a vehicle.
Demopolis officers set up on U.S. Highway 43 South, Jefferson Road and U.S. Highway 80 West at the Highway 28 intersection to see if the vehicle tried to leave the area.
A DPD officer that had been set up at U.S. 80 West and Alabama 28 located the vehicle and made a traffic stop. The driver, Melvin Todd Hathorn, gave officers a fake name and identification before providing consent to search the vehicle.
Upon searching the vehicle, officers found numerous fake IDs and checks along with a laptop computer, printers and hard drives. The Demopolis Police Department arrested the driver and a passenger.
Hathorn, 51 of Bassfield, Miss., is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, using a false identity to avoid prosecution and trafficking stolen identities.
The passenger, Brandi Leigh Hawthorne, 36 of Buckauttana, Miss., is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument and trafficking stolen identities.
Both individuals were processed and transported to the Marengo County Detention Center.
Demopolis Police Department Chief Tommie Reese applauded his criminal investigation division and the patrol officers involved for bringing the individuals to justice.
“Whenever you take advantage of people’s kindness, you are a heartless person,” Reese said.
Reese indicated more charges may be added as the investigation continues.