Oops! Suspected Forger Caught After Leaving License Behind

A Brooklyn Park man accused of trying to cash a forged check was identified after he left his driver’s license behind while fleeing, according to a warrant filed Thursday.

Investigators accuse 27-year-old Shea Allen Lawrence Nicholas of trying to cash a $497.22 check at US Grocery and Tobacco on March 29, Investigator Renee Meuwissen wrote in the criminal complaint.

The check was made out to Nicholas on the bank account of Award Staffing. US Grocery and Tobacco employees stalled Nicholas as they tried to verify the check. Nicholas fled but left his driver’s license behind, according to the court documents.

Award staffing confirmed that the check was forged and that Nicholas didn’t have permission to have or cash any of their checks.

Police later did a photo lineup with the two employees who dealt with the suspect. One was certain that Nicholas was the forger, while the other believed he was the person but was less certain.

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office tried to contact him July 19 to outline his eligibility for the pre-charge diversion program—an alternative to the justice system that holds people accountable through minimal intervention in select cases. It results in the dismissal of charges if the person charged completes the diversion program.

However, the mailing was returned as undeliverable and a warrant was issued for Nicholas’ arrest.

He’s been aggravated forgery—a felony with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.