Man charged with felonies for allegedly attempting to cash bad check

SANDUSKY – A 37-year-old man was arrested and charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly attempted to cash a fraudulent check at the VacationLand Federal Credit Union branch on Hayes Avenue.

According to a report from the Perkins Township Police Department, officers responded to the bank on Monday afternoon for a report of someone trying to cash a fraudulent check.

Bank employees, according to the report, told officers that a man, identified as Eric Ruscin, of Painesville, came into the bank to cash a check. The employees claimed the signature on the check was found to not match that of the bank member, who is a 65-year-old Castalia woman. They added that the routing number and account number on the check were confirmed to belong to the member, the report states.

Officers detained Ruscin as he was walking out of the bank, the report states. He allegedly told officers that he was Oleh Maksym and from Ukraine, but was unable to provide a passport, when asked by officers. He allegedly claimed that he was cashing the check for another individual, whom he was unable to name.

After officers arrested Ruscin, he was allegedly found to be in possession of checking withdrawal sheets and multiple stolen credit or debit cards.

While in the back of the cruiser, according to the report, Ruscin became angry and started to kick the door and the divider cage. He eventually complained of having chest pains and was transported by Perkins Township EMS to Firelands Regional Medical Center, the report states.

Ruscin was charged with felony counts of counterfeiting, identity fraud, passing bad checks, and receiving stolen property.

This article was written by Nate Hinners. Contact Nate at nhinners@huroninsider.com.