Police: Fake $100 Bills Had Lincoln's Image

Watermark Contained Abe Lincoln's Portrait

UPDATED: 4:59 pm EST February 19, 2008

MESA, Ariz. -- A 37-year-old Mesa man who tried to buy a watch with two counterfeit $100 bills containing a watermark of Abraham Lincoln was arrested on forgery charges, police said.

Scott Martin fought with the owner of the store on Saturday after the shopkeeper confronted him about the counterfeit bills, a court document said.

The owner stunned Martin with a Taser, KPHO-TV in Phoenix reported.

When fire rescue personnel arrived, they cut off Martin's shirt to treat him, and three more counterfeit $100 bills fell out, the document said.

In addition, two more fake $100 bills and one counterfeit $20 bill were found under Martin's armpit, officers said.

An officer who examined the $100 bills found several of them had matching serial numbers besides Lincoln's image, which is found on $5 bills.

During the course of his treatment, Martin told authorities he had swallowed a bag of meth.

Detectives said they discovered Martin was out on bond for charges involving other counterfeit $100 bills in Apache Junction.