Forgery suspect caught following foot chase

An Alabama man has been charged in connection with alleged attempts to pass forged Tyson Foods payroll checks.

Jose Angel Rocha, 39, Decatur, Ala., was captured after a short foot chase near Rite-Aid, Madison Street, last Friday, Detective Charles Merlo of the Shelbyville Police Department said.

Rocha was among a group of five persons who attempted to pass the checks at Discount Food Mart, North Cannon Boulevard, police said. The other four showed forms of identification but all ran from the store when one was asked to show his Tyson ID badge, Merlo said.

Police were notified moments later of a man -- Rocha -- being chased on foot after allegedly looking into a van at the Big Springs Shopping Center parking lot next to the convenience store.

The owner of the van told police Rocha got into a red Nissan Quest, occupied by three other men, and bearing what appeared to be a California license plate. The Quest stopped at Rite-Aid, followed by the owner of the van from Goodwill who chased Rocha when he got out.

Rocha was apprehended behind a Madison Street laundry by Officer Josh Leverette.

The individual who initiated the chase told investigators Rocha dropped something into the North Brittain Street storm water flume. Deputy Lindsey Puckett of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department recovered a Tyson payroll check from the flume, police said.

Rocha was charged with resisting arrest, forgery, and four counts of criminal responsibility for conduct of another and is being held on $33,000 bond, police said.

The other four left the scene and have not been found, according to officers.

Jail intake

The following were arrested since Monday by the Shelbyville Police Department, Bedford County Sheriff's Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol or 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force. They are only charged; guilt or innocence will be determined by the courts.

* Lakisha Sharese Benson, 31, Maplewood Drive; simple possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of schedule II drug, violation of parole, forgery (three counts), theft of property; held, $25,000 bond

* Matthew Drennon Bridges, 19, Estill Springs; criminal trespassing; released, $1,500 bond

* Roderick Wendell Brooks, 31, Hannah Street, Bell Buckle; failure to appear (two counts); held, no bond

* Christy Annette Camacho, 38, Railroad Avenue; violation of probation; released, $2,500 bond

* Ronald Cecil Coope, 44, East Cedar Street; violation of probation; released, $2,500 bond

* Harold Gene Edwards Jr., 22, Cherokee Trail; no driver's license/exhibited on demand; released, $500 bond

* Roger Dale Kelley, 23, Rich Road; harassment; released, no bond

* Justin Lekorii Offord, 20, Smyrna; driving on revoked/suspended license, vehicle light law; released, $1,500 bond

* Dean Edward Perry, 43, White Street; assault, criminal trespassing; released, $4,500 bond

* Miranda Ann Register, 25, Hight Street; driving on revoked/suspended license; released, $1,500 bond

* Taymie Wynette Robinson, 21, Anthony Lane; forgery, credit card fraud; released, $18,000 bond

* Jeremy Dean Sissom, 28, Woodbury; failure to appear; held, $25,000 bond

* Alton Ray Thomas, 51, East Cedar Street; domestic assault; released, $2,500 bond