Crime & Safety

Suspects Chased to Sandy Springs After Allegedly Passing Counterfeit Bills in Alpharetta

Three men accused of passing fake currency at Burger King were caught after police chase to Sandy Springs.

UPDATE: Police have identified two of the men arrested in the counterfeit bill case today. The third remains at Grady Hospital after being bit by a police dog.

Three men suspected of passing counterfeit bills just after 3:15 p.m. today at an Alpharetta Burger King were chased to Sandy Springs, where they were caught with the help of a K9 unit.

George Gordon, executive officer of the Alpharetta Public Safety Department, said Alpharetta 911 received an emergency call from the Burger King restaurant located at Highway 9 south of Windward Parkway. The Burger King employee told dispatchers that two black males and a white male were in the restaurant attempting to pass counterfeit currency.

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The suspects left the store prior to officers arriving on scene. A lookout was broadcast to our police units.

An Alpharetta police officer and another unit spotted the suspects vehicle on GA 9. They attempted a traffic stop, but the suspects fled the scene. Alpharetta police units pursued the fleeing suspects into Sandy Springs.

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The suspects pulled into a housing area and fled on foot from the vehicle. Alpharetta police captured two of the suspects while the other was captured by the use of a Sandy Springs police K9 dog. The third suspect was bitten by the K9 dog while resisting arrest.

Alpharetta police took custody of two of the suspects while the third was transferred to Grady Hospital. Alpharetta police recovered stolen SSN cards, tools used for the commission of burglaries and a homemade tool used to break into automobiles.

The two men taken into custody were identified as:

  • Brooks Tremaine Cotton, 29, of Decatur, charged with possession of tools for committing a crime, forgery first degree, obstruction, reckless conduct, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving, fleeing and eluding, overtaking a vehicle by passing on the right and speeding.
  • Lavell Maurice Mclurkin (possible McClurkin),  45, of Marietta, charged with obstruction and forgery 1st degree.

The white male suspect has not been identified and remains at Grady Hospital for treatment of a K9 bite.

The investigation continues and charges are pending.


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