Counterfeit bills spur charges

An Atchison man faces two felony charges in Douglas County on suspicion of passing counterfeit $10 bills in Lawrence recently.

Lawrence police officers responded to McDonald’s, 3241 Iowa, Friday after receiving a call about a possible counterfeit bill used there.

Police then stopped a vehicle that matched a description of the car that suspects were driving on a frontage road near the restaurant.

Officers then arrested a Michael Patrick McGuire, 28, Atchison, on charges of making false information, manufacturing false information and obstruction. Police also detained the man on two outstanding warrants.

The Douglas County District Attorney’s office has filed two charges of marking false information against McGuire. He pleaded not guilty on Monday, and he is scheduled to appear in court again this afternoon.

Prosecutors did not file charges on Monday against two other people who were originally arrested in the car.

Police accuse McGuire of passing counterfeit bills in at least 10 Lawrence businesses, including at restaurant drive-throughs. The bills have the identical serial number, and they do not include a security strip, according to a statement from police. The U.S. Secret Service is also looking into the case as the investigation continues.