South Bend Police Department Press Release

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The South Bend Police Department has seen an increase in both the quantity and quality of counterfeit U.S. currency in recent weeks. At one large retail location within the last three weeks, the SBPD was summoned and presented with five counterfeit $100.00 bills that eluded detection until it was too late. The highest quality bills are produced by a method in which a real U.S. $10.00 bill is washed until the ink is gone, then the paper is passed through a high quality printer rendering a counterfeit $50 or $100.00 bill. By utilizing this process, the "feel" of the bill is maintained and it will pass the counterfeit detection pen test used by many retail establishments. On the other hand, simply scanning and printing $20.00 bills on a good bond of plain paper is alive and well and these forgeries are still finding their way into cash registers.




Without a doubt, the best method for merchants and the public to not fall victim to these thieves is by being properly trained in what legitimate bank notes look like. The re-designed U.S. currency makes use of many printing techniques to improve legitimacy however if retail staff or consumers are not aware, these upgrades are useless. There are very few forgeries that will pass most of the tests that the average person can perform on the spot. Detecting forgeries immediately helps law enforcement, consumers and retailers at the same time.



The SBPD urges everyone to be familiar with the elements of legitimate currency. For examples of real U.S. banknotes look here: http://bit.ly/524vf1

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Click the title to see the suspect's picture

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Help us determine the identity of this woman. Click on the Title/link to be directed to our blog to see her.

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The following individual is being sought for questioning concerning the robbery of the Bank Of America branch at 1404 E. Ireland Rd. on Monday, October 19, 2009:


Kevin Matthew Bowen, M/White 36
5′-07″; 130#; Blonde hair, Blue eyes

Bowen is known to frequent both the South Bend and Mishawaka areas.

If you know Kevin Bowen’s whereabouts call the South Bend Police Department immediately at 574.235.9201

*Click the title for a photo*

At 1:02 PM, the SBPD received a call of a robbery at the Bank of America branch, located at 1404 E. Ireland Rd. in the City. Officers arrived and were told that a male white subject had entered the bank, approached a teller and demanded money. He stated that he was armed, however no weapon was seen. After securing a sum of cash the man fled on foot to the east and it is believed to the north, into a residential area. No one was injured and there were only a few patrons in the establishment during the robbery.




The suspect is described as:



Male, white. Approximately late 40's, 5'-06", thin build

with a gray goatee. He was wearing dark pants,

a blue (possibly Nike brand) wind shirt and a green

baseball cap.

See his images here: http://wp.me/pxPKg-O



Anyone that can help ID this bank robber is asked to call the SBPD at 574.235.9201 or Crime Stoppers at 574.288.STOP. Sgt. Ronald Nowicki is in charge of the investigation.

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The SBPD has received a complaint from a Chicago, IL man who reports being paid for a Notre Dame football ticket transaction in counterfeit U. S. currency.
A "tour guide" brought some individuals to South Bend from Chicago to attend the Notre Dame v. Washington game on October 3rd. He had a few no-show guests and was left with a quantity of extra tickets. He sold same to street vendors (so called, "scalpers") in the vicinity of Notre Dame Ave. and Angela Blvd. Upon returning to Chicago his bank alerted him to the fact that much of the money he had deposited was counterfeit.
 
Both counterfeit Notre Dame football tickets and now, currency have been linked to individuals selling tickets on the streets. Please beware and purchase tickets from legitimate sources.

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Your South Bend Police Department would like to remind everyone that this Saturday, Sept. 19, will be a very busy day for pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Not only will the Notre Dame vs. Michigan State fans create what will probably be the largest traffic draw of the season, but the "Salmon Chase" walk and run will cause significant road closures and delays during the morning hours in the Downtown and north/river neighborhoods. Please plan your travel accordingly and watch out for a very large number of pedestrians.

Lets make this a safe gameday.

Salmon Chase Map

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At 12:16 PM, this date, the SBPD Communications Center received a call from a citizen reporting what she believed to be a body in the St. Joseph River adjacent to the 900 block of Northside Blvd. SBFD Water Rescue personnel arrived and confirmed the fact that there were human remains approximately 10 yards from shore and began to recover the body.

The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit (MHU) was called along with the County Coroner's Office as is standard procedure in these type of found body incidents and they will investigate the case. An autopsy has been ordered and the body has been transported to a morgue in the region. The exact time and date of the autopsy is unknown at this time.

The individual appeared to be a middle-aged male white, fully clothed and wearing prescription eyeglasses. There was a wallet discovered in this person's clothing and an Indiana ID card located in same, however it will take additional research to verify the identity. The body appeared to have been in the water for several days at the least.

Labels: Jeffery Elliott Drowning

FOUND ! 8/12/09 Cancel Missing Persons Report.
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Leroy Mahan was reported to police as missing Thursday, after he failed to return from a bike ride.

Family members say Mahan was last seen in the area near Donmoyer and South Main streets about 11:15 a.m., riding a green woman's mountain bike. He had left his family's house wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans, a silver watch and black shoes. He also has a tattoo of a cowboy hat on his arm.

Mahan, who is 5 feet 8 inches tall with a medium build, left home without medications for a heart condition and a mental condition.

Anyone with information about Mahan's whereabouts is asked to call the South Bend Police Department at (574) 235-9361.