Dean Eli Hatfield, 32, of Austin was charged on Monday in Mower County District Court with felony check forgery-offer/possess with intent to defraud and misdemeanor driving after suspension of his license.

According to court documents, police were called at 4:56 p.m. on Friday to US Bank regarding someone trying to cash a stolen check. A Ford Taurus, driven by Hatfield, was stopped in Lane 3, so officers positioned their cars to block him in. Hatfield allegedly told one of the officers the check was from a man who was buying a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero from him.

An employee at the bank said that Hatfield came by earlier attempting to cash a check in the sum of $850 from an account belonging to a rural Austin woman, the court documents said. Hatfield was denied because he did not have sufficient identification, so he returned with identification. It was during the interim that the employee learned the check had been allegedly reported stolen. The employee also advised that the check appeared to be a forgery.

An officer observed the check and saw the original writing had been written over with a very thick black pen, according to court documents. The officer asked Hatfield why the memo on the check said “1981 Chevy Repair” and Hatfield allegedly said he “didn’t look at the check” before he attempted to cash it.

A review of Hatfield’s criminal record shows prior convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property. He is currently awaiting pre-trial on a felony domestic assault charge, to which he has pled not guilty.

Hatfield will appear in court again on July 2.