Mass. police chief: Man tried to sell me fake gold

[January 20, 2011]  RANDOLPH, Mass. (AP) -- Police say a Boston man picked the wrong mark when he tried to sell him fake gold jewelry at a grocery store.

The man approached William Pace on Sunday and offered to sell him a bracelet and chain marked as 14 karat gold for $100. Two problems -- Pace is the police chief in Randolph, Mass., and he owns a jewelry store.

Pace, who was out of uniform, tells The Patriot Ledger he could tell the gold was fake by its look and feel.

The suspect, identified by police as Johnnie Butts, will be issued a summons to appear in court on a charge of attempt to commit larceny by false pretense.

Police are trying to determine if Butts sold any fake jewelry to others before approaching Pace.

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Information from: The Patriot Ledger, http://www.patriotledger.com/

[Associated Press]

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