Police Log: Man Arrested For Passing Bad $3,000 Check

On Sept. 7, Woonsocket Police Det. Thomas Gormley was at AJ's Mini Martwhen owner Atoine Elhosri told him about a fraudulent check he received from a customer in April.

Elhosri said that on April 19, Lionel Joseph Martin, 45, of 187 Boyden St., came into his store with a check for $3,000 he said was from an insurance company for an accident claim.Elhosri attempted to deposit the check at Sovereign Bank, and they told him it was a fake. He said he contacted Martin and asked for the money back, but Martin hadn't returned it. He said he didn't want to press charges so long as Martin returned the money. 

Gormley returned to his office and called Martin, who told him he had paid Elhosri $200 toward the theft. Elhosri said Martin had given him $200, but it was for an unrelated personal check.

On Oct. 24, Elhosri called to tell Gormley he wanted to press charges. Gormley took his statement and legal copy of the check from the bank, and a warrant for Martin's arrest was requested.

Martin was arrested Oct. 26 at 3:09 p.m. at the store and charged with obtaining money greater than $1,500 under false pretenses.