CLAIBORNE COUNTY, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – Police are searching for a woman accused of using a counterfeit $100 bill to pay for food at a Tazewell-area restaurant before allegedly stealing money collected for the Claiborne Animal Shelter.
According to Tazewell Police Chief Jeremy Myers, the incident happened Sept. 7 at La Esperanza Mexican Restaurant when an unidentified woman placed a food order and paid with a counterfeit $100 bill. Restaurant employees provided cash back as change, but the woman left without ever picking up her order.
After reviewing security camera footage, investigators discovered another alleged crime had occurred.
Police said a donation jar displayed on the restaurant counter had been tampered with, and approximately $50 in cash was missing. The money had been collected for the Claiborne Animal Shelter, a nonprofit organization that relies heavily on donations to care for animals.
Restaurant owner Rosa Salgado said she witnessed the woman taking money from the jar after stepping into the kitchen.
“I feel stupid. I feel like I should do something. Because that’s not right,” Salgado said.
She said the theft was particularly upsetting because the stolen money had been donated to help animals in need.
“And I feel angry. Because how a person can do that? She saw that the jar said that it was the donations for the animal shelter. And she didn’t care,” Salgado said. “If it was our tips jar, it don’t matter. But it was not even ours. Somebody else gave it to that cause. So that’s what makes me more angry.”
The theft has also frustrated volunteers with the Claiborne Animal Shelter.
Elaine Cass, a volunteer with the shelter, said the organization depends entirely on donations from the public.
“We only run on donations only. We are not state-funded, we are not city-run, and donations mean a lot to us,” Cass said.
According to Cass, the shelter cares for between 300 and 350 dogs and cats each month, with operating expenses ranging from $10,000 to $12,000 monthly.
Those donations help pay for food, vaccinations, litter, medical care and other necessities required to care for rescued animals.
“It goes towards the food, it goes towards vaccinations, it goes for litter,” Cass said. “So it goes for all the care, everything it takes to take care of any of the animals.”
Shelter volunteers and restaurant staff are now hoping someone in the community recognizes the suspect from surveillance video and contacts investigators.
“We’re just hoping that the community can see this. And hopefully, let’s get her caught. Because that’s a wrong thing to do,” Cass said.
The Tazewell Police Department continues to investigate. Anyone with information about the suspect or the incident is asked to contact Tazewell investigators.
Tazewell Police are investigating after a woman allegedly used a counterfeit $100 bill at a local restaurant and stole donations intended for the Claiborne Animal Shelter.
