VERO BEACH – A 52-year-old man is behind bars on a $31,000 bond after attempting to pass a counterfeit $100 bill in Vero Beach, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
Gerald Lenn Taylor, of Vero Beach, was charged with Felony Robbery Purse/Sudden Snatching, Felony Utter Forged Instrument and having Drug Paraphernalia.
On Thursday at approximately 9:15 p.m., Taylor approached a woman pumping gas at the Cumberland Farms at 1925 43rd Avenue and asked if she had change for a $100 bill. The woman agreed and went to give Taylor five $20 bills when she realized the $100 bill he was presenting was fake, according to the report.
The woman saw the words “motion picture only” written all over the $100 bill.
“Hey man, this ain’t real, this is fake,” the female victim told Taylor, according to the arrest affidavit.
Taylor leaned into her vehicle from the passenger side door, and the two struggled over the money.
After a brief struggle, Taylor managed to take the money and ran towards 43rd Avenue and into a tan SUV.
The woman’s boyfriend was inside the Cumberland Farms and saw Taylor running away from the vehicle. He ran out of the store to call 911.
Also in line were two other men, who ran out the door and fled in a tan SUV where Taylor was last seen.
Deputies reviewed store surveillance video of the whole incident. One of the deputy’s recognized the van belonging to a Gifford man from a previous encounter.
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The deputies then went to the Gifford home and spoke with the owner of the van. He said he was with Gerald Lenn Taylor at Cumberland Farms and identified him as the man who passed the fake $100 bill.
Taylor, who was found sitting outside his home, was arrested and transported to the Indian River County Jail.