Cranford Police arrested Cranford resident Peter Baker on April 27 for allegedly issuing checks to customers that bounced at the bank totaling $4,850 over a two-month-period, said Det. Sgt. Gerard Quinn of the Cranford Police Department. He has also been charged with taking $5,600 from customers by deception.
Baker was released from Union County Jail after posting $7,500 bail pending a first appearance in Union County Superior Court on May 2.
Baker is the owner of Cranford High School athletics-themed store Cranford Corner at 415 Centennial Avenue. Police said the arrest is a result of a two-month-long investigation stemming from six customers who said varsity letterman jackets they ordered in October and November did not arrive. Some customers reported that they asked Baker for a refund and received a bad check from Baker that bounced at the bank.
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Former Cranford Corner owner Mark Mayer has also alleged that he also received two bad checks from Baker totaling $4,500, when he bought the remainder of Mayer's inventory, consisting of jackets, magnets, t-shirts and other blue-and-gold themed gear last year.
Baker also posted bail on outstanding warrants from Madison, Elizabeth, Cranford and Totowa Municipal Courts.
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