MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Former Interim Shelby County Mayor Joe Ford was arrested Tuesday morning, charged with writing a bad check and theft.
Ford, 58, was booked at the Shelby County Jail just before 8 a.m. on Tuesday, February 5 on one count of Passing a Bad Check $1,000 - $10,000 and one count Theft of Property $1,000 - $10,000.
Investigators with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office say in July 2012, Ford wrote a check to Lauderdale Liquor for $1,301.23 on his funeral home's business account. The check was returned for non-sufficient funds, and the store manager told investigators he made several attempts to settle the charge with Ford before contacting the authorities in January.
Joe Ford has since posted a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court February 6.
There have been several problems with Ford in the past, including cases of bad check writing. Ford, who owns Joe Ford Funeral Home, was hit with a $2,200 fine from the State of Tennessee for writing a $6,000 bad check to the Aurora Casket Company early in 2011. In September 2011, Ford was charged with theft for writing $5,800 in bad checks for two Rolex watches purchased at Las Savell Jewelers. State records also show that while Ford served as interim Shelby County Mayor, he acted as a funeral director despite his license being expired.
