A WOMAN FROM THE TAMPA BAY AREA WAS ARRESTED AFTER SHE AND A FRIEND TRIED TO BUY LOTTERY TICKETS WITH COUNTERFEIT BILLS. CHARLOTTE COUNTY DEPUTIES SAY A CLERK AT THE CIRCLE K/SHELL STATION ON DUNCAN ROAD EAST OF PUNTA GORDA CALLED THEM JUST AFTER 12:30 TUESDAY MORNING AND SAID SHE DECLINED THE PURCHASE WITH THE FAKE $100 DOLLAR BILL. SHE SAID THE MAN AND WOMAN FLED IN A SILVER CHRYSLER, AND SHE SHOWED DEPUTIES THE STORE VIDEO. LESS THAN 15 MINUTES AFTER A BE ON THE LOOKOUT WAS ISSUED, A DEPUTY SPOTTED A VEHICLE MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION ON CLEVELAND DRIVE. HE MADE A TRAFFIC STOP AFTER THEY WENT DOWN DALEWOOD STREET, WHICH WAS A DEAD END. THE MAN RAN FROM THE CAR, LEAVING THE WOMAN, 21 YEAR OLD TABBETHA HAMMOND OF THONOTOSASSA BEHIND. A SEARCH OF THE VEHICLE FOUND THE FAKE BENJAMIN WITH ANOTHER CRUMPLED ON THE FLOORBOARD. ANOTHER WAS FOUND IN AN ENVELOPE IN THE DRIVER DOOR STORAGE AREA ALONG WITH SIX REPLICATED PAPERS CUT TO THE EXACT SIZE OF LEGAL TENDER CURRENCY. DEPUTIES ALSO FOUND A COPIER/PRINTER IN THE TRUNK, AND A LIPSTICK CASE THAT HAD MARIJUANA IN IT. A CANINE COULD NOT LOCATE THE FLEEING SUSPECT, WHO WAS DESCRIBED AS A WHITE MAN WITH A MILITARY HAIR CUT. HE WAS ABOUT SIX FEET TALL, 190 POUNDS, AND HE WAS WEARING A WHITE SHORT SLEEVE POLO SHIRT WITH RED AND BROWN HORIZONTAL STRIPES AND BLUE JEANS TO THE KNEE. HAMMOND WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON NUMEROUS FORGING AND DRUG CHARGES. SHE REMAINS IN THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY JAIL, WITH BOND SET AT OVER $68,000 DOLLARS.
