Published: March 17, 2008 11:40 am      

Police make arrest in alleged forgery

EDMOND — Edmond Police responded at about 9:15 a.m. Thursday morning to a forgery in progress at the Tinker Federal Credit Union, 1401 N. Kelly, according to a police report. The Police Department was alerted to the scene by an officer who was working security at the bank.

Officer Derick Pickard reported he arrived at the scene following Sgt. Tony Fike and Officer Bercher. Pickard reported making contact with two females and a Chrysler PT Cruiser that was parked in the drive-through lane. One of the women was in the back seat holding a newborn infant while the defendant was standing beside the car, Pickard reported.

Bank personnel had reported to Officer Fountain that the two females were passing checks at two separate locations on a closed account, according to the police report.

Pickard reported that he contacted the defendant, asking her why she was at the bank. “The (suspect) told me that she was here to cash a check that she received for babysitting,” Pickard reported. “The check was for $400.”

Pickard reported the woman could not explain how much she earns for babysitting and when she was paid. The report states that Pickard informed the woman that there was documentation she had cashed and attempted to cash four checks in two days for more than $2,000.

According to the report, the suspect told Pickard that her cousin had written her the check “she passed through the drive-through and she had signed it.”

Jasmine Dominique Kemp, 18, was arrested on a complaint of three counts of Uttering a Forged Instrument and one count of Possession of Stolen Property. She was transported to the Edmond Police Department.

Pickard reported he searched the defendant’s purse in the front seat of the PT Cruiser. He reported locating a second check from the same account. “This check was written to the defendant and endorsed by the defendant,” Pickard stated. “Investigation revealed that this check was passed in attempt to cash it on March 12, 2008, at another Tinker Federal Credit Union in Oklahoma City.”

Pickard reported that a teller with Tinker Credit Union said she recalled the two females from a transaction on March 11. The police report stated the teller said she had helped the same two females on Thursday. The teller reportedly took the $400 check and was instructed to put some in the account and cash the rest. The teller then discovered the two women she was dealing with had been placed on alert. The teller reportedly notified Officer Fountain.

According to the report, Pickard also spoke with another bank teller, who recalled the two females from a transaction on March 12. This teller had reportedly cashed a $600 check written on the same account to the same person and same endorsee.

An Edmond Police detective contacted the owner of the check who reportedly stated that she gave no one permission to use or take the checks.

According to the report, the defendant stated she was supposed to open an account, and then they were going to use that account to cash the checks.