Ark City police say a Wichita woman was manufacturing and trying to pass off counterfeit currency out of an Ark City motel room.
The woman, 31-year-old Angela Jolynn Smith-Rael, was arrested following a pursuit by Cowley County Sheriff’s Office deputies that began in Ark City and ended in Derby after complaints from local convenience stores.
“This investigation was sparked by alert, observant employees,” Ark City Police Chief Eric Burr said. “They provided the necessary information in a timely fashion so that officers could broadcast the description which put our partners at the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office in a great position to intercept.
“Thank you to the watchful clerks and to the members of the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in capturing the suspect in this case. This investigation is ongoing with the hopes of making more arrests in the immediate future.”
According to a news release from the ACPD Tuesday evening, at approximately 11:12 a.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to Casey’s at 3413 N Summit Street for the report of a female attempting to purchase items with a counterfeit $50 bill.
The clerk at Casey’s did not accept the transaction and the suspect then walked out with several items without paying for them and drove away. Officers responded to gather preliminary information. A short time later, officers learned the same female had also attempted to pass a counterfeit $50 bill at Casey’s Midtown at 1425 N Summit Street.
Officers were able to obtain a vehicle information for the suspect and it was relayed to surrounding law enforcement agencies, the police department said.
At around 11:58 pm. officers learned the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office was involved in a vehicle pursuit with the suspect vehicle.
The pursuit ended in Derby and a female identified as Smith-Rael was arrested.
Officers also learned she had been staying at America’s Best Value in Ark City.
Investigators applied for and received a search warrant for the room associated with Smith-Rael and as a result multiple items associated with the manufacturing of counterfeit currency were located.
Smith-Rael was charged with two counts of counterfeiting currency, and one count of theft, along with additional charges through the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office.
At the time of the news release Tuesday, Smith-Rael is being held at the Cowley County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
This case is currently still on-going and officers are investigating possible accomplices, as well as other possible victims of the counterfeit currency.
