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Friday, May 08, 2009

Newark Man Charged In Trying To Cash Boss’ Check

Michael W. Booker-Cruz
Location of Incident: TD Bank, 101 Hygia Drive, Newark, Delaware; Dog Days Deli, 4130 Stanton Ogletown Road, Newark, Delaware, New Castle County

Date and Time of Occurrence: May 4th, 2009

Suspect(s): Michael W. Booker-Cruz, 20, of Winchester Road in Newark, Delaware

Resume: On Thursday, May 7th, a Troop 6 patrol officer was dispatched to the Dog Days Deli on Stanton Ogletown Road for a fraud report.

The officer arrived on the scene and spoke with the business owner (victim). This person advised he just received a call from his bank, TD Bank on Hygia Drive, and was advised a subject named Michael Booker-Cruz had tried to cash one of his own checks in the amount of $978.00. The victim said Booker-Cruz was an employee at his store and he never authorized him to take or cash a check.

Officers conducted a routine computer inquiry and learned that Booker-Cruz was wanted on three outstanding court capiases. Troopers responded to the suspect’s residence and took him into custody without incident. He was subsequently transported back to Troop 6 for processing.

This investigation revealed the suspect had stolen the victim’s check on May 4th while he was working. He then forged the check and signed the victim’s name to the bottom. When Booker-Cruz tried to cash the check on May 7th, the teller would not complete the transaction because the signature on the check could not be verified. In an attempt to still have the transaction go through, Booker-Cruz provided his own identification card from which the teller copied his personal information (name, date of birth, etc). In the end, the bank still would not cash the check.

Michael Booker-Cruz was formally charged with Forgery (felony), Theft (misdemeanor) and Attempted Theft (misdemeanor). Bail was set at $450.00 and he was released for custody.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Stupid is as Stupid does.

Anonymous said...

$450 bail for a $1000 check fraud? Ought to be more, I think. Like $10,000