Bogus bucks and a hot pursuit lead to suspect

WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- Counterfeit Benjamin's, a sharp-eyed store clerk and cops in hot pursuit!

It was a wild scene outside a store in West Palm Beach this afternoon, where a man trying to pass bogus bucks was busted.

Officers literally had to follow the money trail as they recover more than 20 fake 100 dollar bills, outside a Wal-mart, near Military Trail and 45th Street.

46-year-old Terry Gammage was led away from the store in handcuffs.

He was caught after this worker says she called police when a co- worker spotted something odd with the suspect's hundred dollar bill.

"When we pulled it up to the light," said an employee who wished to remain anonymous. "There was a Benjamin Franklin face. But, it was sketched in."

Employees told Gammage to stay put.

But they say he fought them off and sped away in his SUV.

Officers say they chased the suspect as he threw ripped bills out the window.

"It looked like snowflakes coming out of the vehicle," said Officer Patrick Ross of the West Palm Beach Police Department. "When he threw the money out, it was lined all along the East side of the roadway and so we had to go and collect every bit of it."

As officers collected the small pieces of fake cash, investigators collected information from security workers in Wal-mart who were roughed up in the ordeal.

Shoppers were stunned.

"You're kidding," said Jeff Wasserman. "Somebody tried to do that? I can't believe it. I guess people are pretty desperate in this economy aren't they?"

Gammage, who has a criminal but non-violent past, is now charged with possession and attempt to pass counterfeit bills.