Police: Man tried to use fake $20 at Baldwin yogurt shop

A man who police said tried to use a fake $20 bill at a yogurt shop in Baldwin was arrested Tuesday and charged with possession of counterfeit bills.

Michael Rapaport, 41, of 4555 Merrick Rd., Massapequa, was arrested at 6:35 p.m. -- not long after Nassau County police said he fled the yogurt store on Grand Avenue.

Police said Rapaport entered Swirl Bliss and attempted to pay for a yogurt using a counterfeit $20. When the owner informed him the bill was a fake, police said, Rapaport fled on his bicycle.

The owner called police.

Responding First Precinct officers located Rapaport on Grand Avenue, where police said he was found to be in possession of additional fake bills.

Rapaport was charged with 15 counts of first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. He was arraigned Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Bail was set at $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond. Rapaport was represented by Legal Aid, which does not comment on cases.

With Ellen Yan

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”