OXNARD : Man Held in Use of Fake $30,000 Check

A Los Angeles man who bought a $27,000 Corvette with a fake cashier’s check was arrested on charges of forgery and grand theft auto after he arranged for cash back from the $30,000 check, Oxnard police said Wednesday.

Roderick Washington, 23, was arrested by Oxnard and Los Angeles police following a short foot chase Tuesday after officials at Todey Chevrolet of Oxnard determined the cashier’s check was forged, police said.

Washington, who uses several aliases, has been convicted of auto theft, forgery, burglary and robbery, Oxnard Detective Leonard Newcomb said.

Sales workers at the car lot had delivered the 1990 red Corvette convertible to Washington about 9 p.m. Monday before verifying the check, said Dan Gates, Todey Chevrolet business manager.

“If he would have just taken the car and run, he could have been in Mexico,” Gates said. “But the car’s here this morning (Wednesday), and we’re glad we caught the bad guy.”