CITY MANAGER'S ARREST RESULT OF ATTEMPT TO PASS COUNTERFEIT $100 BILLS

According to the Union City Police Department, as of 9:15 this morning, an arrest report has been completed regarding South Fulton City Manager James Gray's arrest by that department during the evening of Feb. 25.

The report states officers were called to Big Lots in Union City Feb. 23, regarding an attempt to pass a counterfeit $100 bill by an individual. Officers stated they watched the video footage, which showed Gray making a purchase and attempting to pay with the counterfeit bill. Once the cashier and the store manager told him the bill was fake, he took the bill back, paid with a debit card and exited the store.

On Feb. 24, a call was received by UCPD regarding a customer at Walmart attempting to use a counterfeit $100 bill. That customer, according to the police report was James Gray. When Gray was asked by officers about the incident at Big Lots, Gray stated he had not been in Big Lots.

Officers were able to obtain a copy of the receipt from Gray's purchase at Big Lots and were also able to obtain a DVD which contained video footage of Gray's entire purchase.

From information obtained by The Current beginning last night, Gray, who began his position as South Fulton's City Manager Feb. 11, was arrested in Union City, reportedly in connection to attempts to use counterfeit bills for purchases at more than one Union City store. Gray was lodged in the Obion County Jail as of Monday night.

South Fulton Mayor David Lamb has indicated, pending communication with the City Attorney, that a special called session of the South Fulton Commission could be scheduled in the immediate future to address the matter. The Special Called session has now been set for Thursday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. in the South Fulton Municipal Complex Conference room with only two items listed on the agenda: City Manager and Interim City Manager. The meeting is open to the public.

Reportedly an arraignment has been set for Gray for today in Obion County General Sessions in Union City, Tenn. At his arraignment, Gray was arraigned for two counts of criminal simulation, felony charges, with a bond set at $2,000 and a preliminary hearing for March 12 at 9 a.m. in Obion County General Sessions court.

The Current will continue to update information regarding the case as it becomes available.