On Aug. 7, Rowan County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division began investigating several counterfeit 50 and 100 bills received at Matlock's Used Cars and Parts on Cool Springs Road in Cleveland and LKQ Auto Parts Business in Salisbury, according to a news release.

The counterfeit bills were received at the business several times during August.

During the course of the investigation, Detective C. Brown determined the bills were received from a business, Knight's Auto in Charlotte.

The suspect, Milton McKnight, would call and order parts from the Rowan County business and pay with counterfeit cash.

Rowan detectives made contact with Charlotte investigators and the U.S. Secret Service, who together were able to determine McKnight had passed the counterfeit bills to the Rowan County parts delivery person.

Warrants were obtained on McKnight for four counts of obtaining property by false pretense, and a search warrant was obtained for the Charlotte business, as well as McKnight's home.

Rowan County detectives joined Charlotte officers and Secret Service agents, who served the search warrants on Sept. 12.

During the search, investigators found counterfeit money on McKnight that matched the bills passed in Rowan County, and found counterfeit money at his house.

McKnight was arrested and placed in the Mecklenburg County jail under $15,000 secured bond.

Detectives are continuing to investigate.