Police: Man caught trying to cash fraudulent check

WESTPORT — A New York man was arrested after police said he tried to cash a fraudulent check at a local bank and then fled while being questioned by an officer.

Jorge Fuentes, 36, of Bronx, NY, was charged Sept. 18 with first-degree forgery, third-degree identity theft, illegal duplication of a payment card, obstructing an officer, fourth-degree attempted theft and illegal possession of personal identification information.

Police were dispatched to the TD Bank office at 185 Main St. at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Sept. 18 to investigate a report that a man was attempting to cash what appeared to be a fraudulent check.

The suspect — later identified by police as Jorge Fuentes — was still inside the bank when officers arrived, and the report says he was initially cooperative and answered their questions.

But a short time later, police said, he tried to escape from the bank but was stopped and arrested.

According to the report, investigators were able to confirm that he was attempting to cash a check through a “marked” account and also had several other fraudulent checks and counterfeit credit and debit cards in his possession.

Fuentes was taken to police headquarters where he was formally charged and later released after posting $10,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 16 in Stamford Superior Court.