A New York couple were arrested after trying to cash a fraudulent check at an Upper Chichester bank.
Just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, township police were dispatched to S&T Bank, 3915 Chichester Ave., for a report of a theft in progress.
Sgt. Jason Yaletchko arrived to find a female, later identified as Elba Diaz, 55, attempting to cash a bad check. Diaz presented a fake Pennsylvania driver’s license to police. Further investigation revealed her true identity through a New York state-issued identification card, police said.
Meanwhile, Officer Christopher Douglass located a black Kia Sorento with New York registration, which was linked to the incident.
Jashawn N.D. Martin, 23, was near the vehicle and claimed to have traveled from New York to meet a friend. However, his statements were inconsistent, and he was placed under arrest after S&T bank brochures were found in the vehicle, police said.
At police headquarters, Martin’s connection to Diaz was confirmed when she yelled “JD” upon hearing his voice, police said.
Police are working to determine if there are any additional individuals affected.
Court records indicate Diaz was charged with theft by deception, forgery, identity theft, presenting false identification to law enforcement officer and related charges while Martin was charged with conspiracy, forgery, identity theft and related charges.
Both were arraigned before District Judge Christopher R. Mattox, who set bail at 10 percent of $20,000. Both list addresses in the Bronx.
By Thursday, both had posted bail. They are scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing Feb. 12 in Judge David Griffin’s courtroom.