Local Man Charged With Counterfeiting & Escape

The Panama City Police Department announces the arrest of Randy Leroy Bell Jr, 20 years of age.

Bell is being charged with Uttering Forged Bills, Escape, Resisting an Officer, Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Violation of Probation. On May 20, 2012 at approximately 5:20 p.m. Panama City Police officers and detectives were investigating an incident where Bell attempted to pass different dominations of counterfeit currency at a store in the Panama City Mall.

Bell attempted to pass a fifty-dollar bill and twenty-dollar bills he had in his possession.  The bills were poor quality copies of U.S. currency. During the investigation it was learned that Bell had a warrant for his arrest, Failure to Appear on a trespass charge, and he was taken to the police department.

While Bell was in custody at the Panama City Police Department he fled on foot into a wooded area. During the foot pursuit Bell threatened the pursuing officers with bodily harm. Bell was apprehended by the officers and booked into the Bay County Jail for the charges.