Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — A Thief River Falls man has been charged after police investigated a report of check forgery.
Tanner Lyle Peterson, 32, is charged with felony check forgery and felony offering a forged check. He is also charged with misdemeanor possession of stolen checks, according to the complaint.
The complaint was filed Dec. 29. Police received the report on Dec. 9.
Overdrawn account leads to report
According to the complaint, Peterson’s mother learned her checking account was overdrawn. She then discovered three checks were missing or used without permission, the complaint says.
The complaint alleges the checks were written to Rivers Edge in Greenbush. The three checks allegedly totaled $242.58.
Employees find checks and video
Court records say the woman’s daughter contacted employees at the business. The complaint says employees located the checks and related surveillance footage.
Investigators later obtained copies of the checks, according to the complaint. The initial caller allegedly recognized Peterson’s handwriting on the checks.
Receipts and signatures
The complaint says the woman’s name appeared on the checks as the signer. However, the complaint alleges Peterson signed the attached receipts.
Police say the woman’s sister also reviewed the surveillance footage. The complaint says she identified Peterson as the person shown on video.
Access to the home
The complaint states the woman was missing a pack of checks from her house. It also says Peterson had been going to the house while she worked.
According to the complaint, Peterson went there to let the woman’s dogs out. Investigators say that access mattered in the case.
What happens next
Charges are not proof of guilt. Peterson is presumed innocent unless convicted in court.
You can look up public case records here:
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) | Minnesota Judicial Branch | Minnesota Statutes
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.