Police found two black ski masks, a loaded 9 mm pistol, counterfeit money, drugs, stolen mail from the Dallas-Fort Worth area and likely stolen items packed into one car Saturday morning, according to a police report.

They also recovered nearly $4,000 in high-dollar hardware equipment purchased in a bogus transaction, the report stated.

Two couples were shopping at a hardware store off South Loop 288 and filled five carts with valuable hardware equipment, the report stated.

Workers called police because they suspected a possible theft.

By the time officers arrived, one couple had already checked out and left the store, while the other couple’s merchandise was being rung up at the checkout.

A police officer followed the first couple’s car to a nearby parking lot and asked to speak to them as they were entering another store.

The 34-year-old man stepped behind a pillar and dropped something before joining his companion standing near the officer, the report stated.

The officer frisked the man, thinking he might have weapons, but found nothing.

When he later checked behind the pillar, he found two prescription bottles with two small plastic bags with a white substance inside, according to the report.

The officer suspected the substance was methamphetamine and arrested the man on drug possession charges.

During the search, officers noticed a $20 bill in the man’s pocket didn’t have embedded security strips, the report stated.

When officers asked to search the couple’s vehicle, they found numerous cellphones, scales that could be used to measure drugs, small plastic bags, syringes and glass pipes, according to the report.

They also found three laptop computers, a loaded 9 mm pistol, a bag of .45-caliber bullets, two ski masks, and numerous checks and credit cards belonging to other people from all over the region, the report stated.

The other couple, finishing their purchase at the hardware store, was detained after the weapon was found on the first couple, and officers found 162 items from the store totaling nearly $4,000, the report stated.

The couple allegedly told a store clerk that the credit card they used belonged to the woman’s father, but couldn’t give a billing zip code for the card.

Later, police found the credit card used was fraudulently obtained, according to the report.

All four people were arrested for credit card abuse and taken to the city jail.

The first man, age 34, was also charged with possession with the intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and forgery of a government instrument, according to the jail log. His bail was set at $110,000.

The female driver was also charged with drug possession with the intent to distribute, and her bail was set at $60,000.

When a police officer was processing the second man, the officer searched his wallet and reported finding two fraudulent $20 bills and two fraudulent $5 bills, all missing the embedded security strips and holographic logos.

When the police officer turned around to make a copy of the man’s jail intake information, the 25-year-old suspect grabbed the bills and stuffed them into his mouth, according to the police report.

The officer yelled at him to spit out the bills and get on the ground, the report stated, although the man kept chewing, tensing up his body.

The officer pointed a Taser at the man and said if he didn’t get on the ground, he’d be hit with the weapon, according to the report.

The suspect got on the ground, but not before swallowing the evidence.

Officers entered into evidence the video that captured the bill-chewing incident, and they charged him with forgery of a government instrument and tampering with physical evidence.

The 25-year-old man’s bail for the three charges is set at $45,000.

Other reports

Fall Meadow Street — A man reported he was scammed Friday afternoon by a water filter salesman, who took the man’s belongings as collateral until he could pay for the new equipment, according to a police report.

The suspect, who presented himself as a churchgoing fellow, allegedly took the man’s cellphone, video game console, wristwatch and other items in lieu of payment, the report stated. When the suspect saw the man’s LCD television, he told the man he would give him $2,000 for it at a later date, according to the report.

The man gave him everything, but afterwards had second thoughts, the report stated. When the man started checking up on the suspect’s story, he found he was lied to, the report stated.

2300 West University Drive — A police officer reporting to a three-car accident last week found a man, the alleged driver of one of the vehicles, barely able to stand up, according to a report released Sunday.

The officer conducted an intoxication test on the man, who failed. While searching the man’s vehicle, the officer found four empty wine bottles, anxiety medication and three bottles of mouthwash, according to the report.

The officer also found a .22-caliber pistol, which had been reported stolen, and ammunition, the report stated.

CANDACE CARLISLE can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is ccarlisle@dentonrc.com .

Denton County Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in these or other crimes. Callers will remain anonymous. Call 1-800-388-TIPS (8477). Reach the Denton police narcotics tip line at 940-565-5801.