Sheriff Jim Hammond is requesting assistance from the media to disseminate the following information regarding counterfeit checks.

The Criminal Investigative Division of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the passing of counterfeit checks drawn on the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Commissary Account.

At this point the checks have been passed in the Lookout Valley area of Hamilton County but may not be limited to this area for long. Detectives are asking store owners to use caution when cashing any check on this account and verify the identity of the person attempting to cash such a check.

Anyone who may have information is requested to contact Detective Ric Whaley at 423-622-0022.