Sarah Elizabeth Harrington, 39, Arrested on Campbell Street for Counterfeit Money

Sarah Elizabeth Harrington, 39, was jailed after Baker City Police arrested her at 2:30 p.m. in the 500 block of Campbell Street on a charge listed as unlawfully using counterfeit money, according to the county's public safety log published Jan. 31, 2026.

“UNLAWFULLY USING COUNTERFEIT MONEY: Sarah Elizabeth Harrington, 39, Baker City, 2:30 p.m. in the 500 block of Campbell Street; jailed.” That entry appeared in the BakerCityHerald excerpt of the daily police and sheriff log and matches an item in the county log noting that Baker City Police logged the arrest. The original daily log also included an incomplete line stating, “the Baker County Sheriff’s Office logged a contempt of” - text that was truncated in the published log and requires follow-up for clarification.

Beyond the name, age, time and location, the published entries provide few additional details. The log does not specify the amount or denominations of alleged counterfeit currency, whether a business or individual was identified as a victim, the arresting officer, booking number, bond or the facility where Harrington is being held. The log likewise does not indicate whether formal charges have been filed in Baker County Circuit Court or whether the case will be referred to the district attorney.

For Baker City and Baker County, an arrest for unlawfully using counterfeit money is a direct reminder of the exposure small businesses and residents face when handling cash. Local merchants who accept cash payments may see immediate effects if counterfeit bills circulate, and the time spent verifying and replacing tainted bills can hurt narrow-margin operations. Counterfeiting investigations also place additional demands on law enforcement resources that are already tasked with serving a rural, dispersed community.

Residents and business owners should inspect cash carefully and report suspected counterfeit bills to Baker City Police so officers can document incidents and aggregate patterns. Officials have not issued a public statement about the arrest beyond the log entries; reporters and the public will be looking for a formal incident report, arrest affidavit, charging documents and any scheduled court appearances to provide fuller context.

The arrest of Sarah Elizabeth Harrington, as recorded in the Jan. 31 public safety log, is the first public detail available. Follow-up reporting will seek confirmation of charges, custody details, and whether the truncated sheriff’s office entry relates to this case or is a separate matter. For now, the case underscores the practical impacts of counterfeit currency on Baker County’s local economy and the need for vigilance by both residents and law enforcement.