Rochester restaurant manager accused of forging $15,000 check

Erik Paul Rasmussen, a 48-year-old manager at the Olde Brick House restaurant in downtown Rochester, Minnesota, has been arrested on suspicion of check forgery. According to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court, a suspicious check totaling $15,461.45 was cashed on October 2.

Investigators discovered the check was written to Rasmussen’s landlord to cover past-due rent and avoid eviction. While Rasmussen reportedly told his landlord he had permission from his employer to issue the payment, the business owner and staff stated they were unaware of the transaction.

Rasmussen told law enforcement that he wrote the check to his landlord as collateral and admitted he did not have permission to do so, stating, “I shouldn’t have done it.” He was taken into custody by the Rochester Police Department and faces felony charges.