Good Samaritans help officers arrest accused counterfeiters

HOUSTON – Surveillance video showed a man inside a Marshall's on 2920 in Tomball who did not want to go back to jail. 

Tomball Police said they were sent to the store after an Arby's manager across the street told them Marvin French paid for his food with a counterfeit $20.  A good Samaritan guided the officer inside the Marshall's and pointed the man out, police said. 

The video showed French did not complying with the officer.  The good Samaritan again tried to help and French ran out of the store, police said.

Officer Craig Swinghammer, of the Tomball Police said, "When I approached the suspect, the suspect became belligerent and combative. And when I attempted to remove him from the Marshall's to go outside, he began to fight me and he was a large enough suspect where we scuffled and went to the ground."

Video showed parts of French’s scuffle with Swinghammer outside the store.  It was caught on a supervisor’s dashcam as two more good Samaritans helped.

"There were actually three people sitting on him and he was still fighting when I got back up to him, Swinghammer said. “The suspect didn't stop fighting until he was threatened with a K-9 unit."

Outside, police stopped French's getaway car and arrested the driver, Sharifah Abdullah-Bolen. 

Police said French had gotten out of the car and went inside the Marshall's to spend more fake money.  He had counterfeit $20 with him when he was arrested, police said.