Officers were called Saturday to a business in the 5100 block of Commons Drive in Rockling after a caller reported customers were attempting to use the fake currency, said Capt. Chad Morris, a spokesman for the Rocklin Police Department.
Morris did not say which specific Rocklin businesses were targeted. He said “similar” incidents out of Lincoln led officers to believe the three individuals may have used fraudulent funds in that city. The “large amount” of counterfeit currency prompted Rocklin police officers to alert the U.S. Secret Service, too.
Secret Service officials were not immediately available for comment.
Responding police officers didn’t find the suspects at the scene, but an off-duty officer saw “suspicious” people “manipulating large amounts of cash,” police said.
The three suspects were arrested after a foot pursuit and face charges related to fraud and evading arrest, police said. An 18-year-old and 20-year-old face charges of second-degree burglary, having blank checks with the intent to defraud and conspiracy, according to arrest logs.
The 20-year-old, who was arrested in front of Rocklin City Hall, faces an additional charge of obstructing an officer.
The men hadn’t been charged or were not in custody as of Tuesday, online records show.
It’s unclear if the 17-year-old suspect will be charged.