Newtown Police said February 23 that they are investigating several incidents that occurred on the afternoon of February 20, during which a pair of men either passed or attempted to pass counterfeit $100 bills at three businesses along Church Hill Road.

Police said they received a call just after 3 pm on February 20 reporting that a counterfeit $100 had been passed at one of those businesses. The affected businesses lie along a 1,500-foot-long section of the street. They are Newtown Pizza Palace at 65 Church Hill Road, Your Healthy Pet at 61 Church Hill Road, and Starbucks Coffee at 34 Church Hill Road.

According to the police, two black men who were wearing black hoodie-style Nike sweatshirts and black Nike sweatpants either bought or attempted to buy merchandise with the fake money at the three businesses. After the last incident occurred, they report, the two men were seen traveling westward on Church Hill Road in a black late-model Chevrolet sedan with darkly tinted windows bearing the New Jersey marker plate number R083064.

Police said the counterfeit bill incidents will be referred to the US Secret Service for additional investigation.

Anyone who has any information about the three incidents, or who knows of any similar incidents having occurred, is asked to visit the police at the police station at 3 Main Street or call 203 426-5841. Officer Matthew Hayes is investigating.