An Arlington Heights man was fined $500 after he turned in $17,000 but lied about how and where he actually found the cash, police said today. Robert Adams, 54, was cited today for filing a false report with the Rolling Meadows Police Department.
On the evening of June 6, Adams found a Chase Bank bag full of cash totaling about $17,000 near a Walgreens ATM in Midlothian, police said. Instead of turning the cash in at that location, Adams drove to Rolling Meadows and turned in the bag at a Chase Bank. He later told police he found the cash outside a newspaper stand in Rolling Meadows.
After investigators reviewed video surveillance, they discovered Adams found the money in Midlothian, according to Rolling Meadows Police Sgt. Tony Gaspari in a news release.
When reached by phone Wednesday night, Adams said he felt more comfortable turning the cash in to Rolling Meadows officials and filing the report with Rolling Meadows police.
"I know now a little better than I knew then," he said. "I feel very badly and understand why I should have told the truth."
Adams said it was a hot day and he just wanted to get home. "I wasn't looking for a reward. I was just doing the right thing," he said.
Adams said he was told Wednesday he had to pay a $500 fine for filing a false report. "I accept the fine. I'm very sorry about this whole thing."
