By Laura Bird

Mason City Globe-Gazette

MASON CITY, Iowa — An Albert Lea woman is in custody and facing several charges after leading police on a chase and trying to pass counterfeit $20 bills Friday morning.

Abbey Tripp, 29, was spotted at Long John Silver’s in Mason City after several Mason City and Clear Lake businesses reported that she had allegedly tried to pass counterfeit $20 bills, according to a news release from the Mason City Police Department.

Once spotted, police — in marked squad cars — tried to stop Tripp, but she fled west on Iowa Highway 122 in her vehicle, according to police.

Once in Clear Lake she collided with a vehicle in traffic and kept going. The driver in the vehicle was not injured.

Tripp then drove to the area near the Hilltop Motel and parked on a side street out of view, according to police. The Clear Lake Police Department was nearby and arrested her without further incident.

Tripp, 29, was arrested on a Worth County warrant for possession of a controlled substance and also charged with two counts of forgery, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony eluding by the Mason City Police Department. The Clear Lake Police Department will be filing additional forgery charges.

The Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department assisted with the pursuit and investigation.

The case is still being investigated by law enforcement.

Anyone who received a counterfeit bill or has additional information should contact their respective law enforcement agency.