Man Shreds Fake $100 Bills While Fleeing NJ Cop, Police Say

JACKSON, NJ - A Florida man was charged with fraud and obstruction offenses following a foot chase at a New Jersey shopping center during which he shredded fake $100 bills while attempting to run from an undercover cop, police said.

Following reports of two men trying to pass counterfeit money at Jackson Premium Outlets in Ocean County on Nov. 8, Jackson police’s Detective Stephen Purtell was able to locate one of the suspects while in plainclothes.

After Purtell confronted the suspect, the man dropped the bags he was carrying and began to flee the area, all the while reaching into his pockets to rip up what were later determined to be counterfeit bills.

Purtell was finally able to corner the suspect “in a location that he would not be able to escape” after a quarter-mile chase through the parking lot area, police said.

The suspect, identified as Jeremy Hardy, 26, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was taken into custody and charged with possession of counterfeit bills, destruction of evidence, obstruction and hindering apprehension.

Hardy had in his possession just over $1000 in counterfeit bills, some which were used to make fraudulent purchases, police said.

Hardy was lodged at Ocean County Jail in lieu of his charges, police said. The second suspect was never located or identified.