Post by WaTcHeR on Sept 2, 2006 14:09:11 GMT -5
09.02.2006 - Fashioning fake cash didn't pay for a former deputy sheriff arrested on suspicion of felony forgery late this week.
Richard A. Rossmiller, a former Chouteau County sheriff's deputy, was transported back to Great Falls Friday from Kalispell after a bizarre discovery in an Electric City trash can.
A witness in southwest Great Falls happened to open a bag in a trash bin Thursday morning and found $1,500 worth of counterfeit $20 bills, according to Great Falls Police Lt. Bryan Lockerby.
"They called the police," Lockerby said. "In the garbage was the suspect's personal mail."
Police obtained a search warrant and found more evidence linking Rossmiller to the counterfeiting, he said.
Businesses noticed phony $20, $50 and $100 bills surfacing in Great Falls last week, from casinos to lumberyards to dry cleaners, Lockerby said.
He said the bills lacked detail, were more subdued in color than regular bills and failed a test with security pens.
But Lockerby said a number of bills got past cashiers who did not use the pens. He added that the couple that sold Rossmiller a car accepted the cash, and so did the bank that received the cash. A bank that received the cash second-hand, however, threw up red flags.
Lockerby said he didn't know the sale price of the car, or exactly how much phony cash was floated in the Great Falls area.
"It's still coming in," he said.
Lockerby said the suspect may have gotten spooked after spending a lot of the cash.
"We suspect that he probably knew that we were getting close," Lockerby said. He added that though the trash was dumped in southwest Great Falls, Rossmiller lived on the Lower North Side.
Lockerby said counterfeiting is an increasing problem in Great Falls, with improved and sophisticated copiers and scanners. Using a security pen on suspect bills is the best way to prevent a business or person from becoming a victim, he said.
"Nobody really used one of these security pens," he said.
Lockerby urged cashiers and the public to be vigilant.
"If it smells like a rat, it probably is a rat," he said. Police will check suspect cash on request, he added.
As for Rossmiller, things have come crashing down for the former Chouteau County deputy since 2005.
Last year, Rossmiller was accused of stealing a hot tub from a neighbor and a school chain-link fence in Chouteau County. He later received a suspended sentence on theft and official misconduct charges relating to the stolen items.
The thefts were discovered after Rossmiller had moved to Kalispell last summer to begin working for the Flathead County Sheriff's Office. But Rossmiller never became a deputy there.
In December, Rossmiller was arrested in Kalispell on charges that included stalking a former girlfriend. He eventually pleaded no contest to family member assault of his former girlfriend and guilty to theft and criminal mischief. The Kalispell woman said Rossmiller broke into her home, damaged the electrical wiring and her car, and repeatedly called her.
Rossmiller received a 10-year suspended sentence for felony criminal mischief, plus six-month suspended sentences for theft and partner assault. He had already served six months in jail.
Thursday, Rossmiller was back in Kalispell for a sentence revocation. Rossmiller was accused of returning to Kalispell more than once without permission. Once, on Mother's Day of this year in a Kalispell Park, Rossmiller allegedly stalked a Flathead County sheriff's detective who had investigated his cases, according to Deputy County Attorney Tim Wenz, formerly of Great Falls. The detective was celebrating Mother's Day with his family, Wenz said.
He said Thursday's revocation hearing before District Judge Stewart E. Stadler was continued after Rossmiller's lawyer learned that new charges were pending in Great Falls. Wenz said a new revocation hearing has not been set.
Bail in Great Falls was expected to be set at $100,000 for Rossmiller on a felony forgery by common scheme charge, police said. His initial appearance before a Great Falls judge may be Tuesday.
"We probably won't take cash as bond," Lockerby said.
www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060902/NEWS01/609020302/1002
Richard A. Rossmiller, a former Chouteau County sheriff's deputy, was transported back to Great Falls Friday from Kalispell after a bizarre discovery in an Electric City trash can.
A witness in southwest Great Falls happened to open a bag in a trash bin Thursday morning and found $1,500 worth of counterfeit $20 bills, according to Great Falls Police Lt. Bryan Lockerby.
"They called the police," Lockerby said. "In the garbage was the suspect's personal mail."
Police obtained a search warrant and found more evidence linking Rossmiller to the counterfeiting, he said.
Businesses noticed phony $20, $50 and $100 bills surfacing in Great Falls last week, from casinos to lumberyards to dry cleaners, Lockerby said.
He said the bills lacked detail, were more subdued in color than regular bills and failed a test with security pens.
But Lockerby said a number of bills got past cashiers who did not use the pens. He added that the couple that sold Rossmiller a car accepted the cash, and so did the bank that received the cash. A bank that received the cash second-hand, however, threw up red flags.
Lockerby said he didn't know the sale price of the car, or exactly how much phony cash was floated in the Great Falls area.
"It's still coming in," he said.
Lockerby said the suspect may have gotten spooked after spending a lot of the cash.
"We suspect that he probably knew that we were getting close," Lockerby said. He added that though the trash was dumped in southwest Great Falls, Rossmiller lived on the Lower North Side.
Lockerby said counterfeiting is an increasing problem in Great Falls, with improved and sophisticated copiers and scanners. Using a security pen on suspect bills is the best way to prevent a business or person from becoming a victim, he said.
"Nobody really used one of these security pens," he said.
Lockerby urged cashiers and the public to be vigilant.
"If it smells like a rat, it probably is a rat," he said. Police will check suspect cash on request, he added.
As for Rossmiller, things have come crashing down for the former Chouteau County deputy since 2005.
Last year, Rossmiller was accused of stealing a hot tub from a neighbor and a school chain-link fence in Chouteau County. He later received a suspended sentence on theft and official misconduct charges relating to the stolen items.
The thefts were discovered after Rossmiller had moved to Kalispell last summer to begin working for the Flathead County Sheriff's Office. But Rossmiller never became a deputy there.
In December, Rossmiller was arrested in Kalispell on charges that included stalking a former girlfriend. He eventually pleaded no contest to family member assault of his former girlfriend and guilty to theft and criminal mischief. The Kalispell woman said Rossmiller broke into her home, damaged the electrical wiring and her car, and repeatedly called her.
Rossmiller received a 10-year suspended sentence for felony criminal mischief, plus six-month suspended sentences for theft and partner assault. He had already served six months in jail.
Thursday, Rossmiller was back in Kalispell for a sentence revocation. Rossmiller was accused of returning to Kalispell more than once without permission. Once, on Mother's Day of this year in a Kalispell Park, Rossmiller allegedly stalked a Flathead County sheriff's detective who had investigated his cases, according to Deputy County Attorney Tim Wenz, formerly of Great Falls. The detective was celebrating Mother's Day with his family, Wenz said.
He said Thursday's revocation hearing before District Judge Stewart E. Stadler was continued after Rossmiller's lawyer learned that new charges were pending in Great Falls. Wenz said a new revocation hearing has not been set.
Bail in Great Falls was expected to be set at $100,000 for Rossmiller on a felony forgery by common scheme charge, police said. His initial appearance before a Great Falls judge may be Tuesday.
"We probably won't take cash as bond," Lockerby said.
www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060902/NEWS01/609020302/1002
