Police: Man Arrested for Using Counterfeit $100 Bill at Area Business

A Reading man who allegedly passed a counterfeit bill to an East Pikeland business in November of 2011 was arrested and charged for the crime earlier this month, police are reporting.

According to court documents, on November 30, 2011, Clifford Tyree Pryear, 37, bought a chicken caesar salad from Rocco’s Pizza and paid for it with a $100 bill, receiving $91 change from the restaurant.

The owner thought there was something suspicious about the man and after he left checked the denomination he paid with. (An Rocco’s employee had rung Pryear up.) The counterfeit bill pen confirmed the bill was fake, and the owner called police.

East Pikeland Police obtained surveillance footage of the suspect at Joes Bar later that night, but weren’t able to track him down until North Coventry police arrested him and two other suspects on January 14 for allegedly passing counterfeit hundred dollar bills at the Coventry Mall.

Pryear faces a felony charge of forgery and an additional charge of theft by deception in reference to the November 2011 incident. He is presently in Chester County Prison, where he awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for February 7.