BAY MINETTE, Ala. — A Faulkner State Community College student is in jail without bond following his arrest in connection with circulating counterfeit money, Bay Minette Police Chief Michael Rowland said Thursday.

“We had several calls about counterfeit money at Wal-Mart, so we launched an investigation,” Rowland said.

That investigation led detectives to 22-year-old Jonathan Kirkland, a resident of Queen Anne Apartments in Bay Minette.

According to Rowland, Kirkland and several suspected accomplices were working with a Wal-Mart cashier in a scheme to trade the fake money for genuine bills.

“There are several others we’re looking for,” he said.

Additionally, the crew is suspected of printing the bills and are being investigated in connection with that.

“We think they’re printing it on a home computer, but we’re still investigating that,” Rowland said.

Kirkland was arrested Wednesday, Jan. 26, and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana and change bills-circulating. He is being held at the Baldwin County Corrections Facility without bond.

While investigating Kirkland, officers searched the man’s apartment and discovered his 23-year-old brother hiding under a bed.

“We went to the residence on information that his brother, George Kirkland, was there and in possession of counterfeit money and drugs,” Rowland said. “Once we were able to extract him from under the bed, officers found him in possession of a quantity of marijuana and a .380-caliber automatic pistol.”

Additionally, Rowland said, officers discovered “several actively growing” marijuana plants in one of the rooms. George Kirkland was arrested, as well, and charged with first-degree possession of marijuana.

During the course of the investigation, officers also found that the elder Kirkland was wanted in Conecuh County on an outstanding warrant for first-degree robbery.

“He was booked into the Baldwin County Corrections Facility on the marijuana charge and is being held for Conecuh County,” Rowland said. By Thursday afternoon, George Kirkland was on his way to Conecuh County to face charges there.

Additional charges may be filed against Kirkland in Bay Minette following the next convening of the Grand Jury.

Rowland said the arrests, in addition to a recent burglary arrest, are just examples of the hard work his officers are doing.

“They are working their butts off getting out there and getting these cases cleared up,” he said.