Winnipeg police have arrested two people they believe were making counterfeit cash in a downtown hotel room.

During the past month, the suspects allegedly spent over $5,000 in fake $50 and $100 bills, primarily for taxi fares, restaurant bills, at gasoline stations and in beverage rooms.

But they were caught on video surveillance at a number of businesses, and police said they used that to identify a 20-year-old man from Winnipeg and 19-year-old woman from Calgary.

Two officers walking the downtown beat in the area of Portage Avenue and Vaughan Street on Tuesday picked one of the suspects out of a crowd of people.

The man was taken into custody. Police said he provided a false name and was found to be in possession of three counterfeit bank notes.

Counterfeiting tools, cash, ID found in room

Further investigation by the commercial crime unit led investigators to a hotel in the 200 block of Smith Street, where the woman was arrested. Police used a search warrant to look inside the hotel room where the couple was staying.

They found complete and partial counterfeit bank notes, along with cutting knives and false identification with the woman's photograph.

Jonnathon Cheyenne Kenneth Chartrand, 20, has been charged with 11 counts related to making and passing off counterfeit money. Kassie Robichaud, 19, has been charged with four counts related to making counterfeit money and possession of property obtained by crime.

Both are still in custody, pending a court appearance.

Police are also looking for a third suspect, 33-year-old Craig Jeremy Charette, who also goes by the name Owen Chapman. He is described as six feet tall, weighing about 200 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

A warrant for his arrest has been issued in relation to the counterfieting incidents.

Anyone with information about these incidents or Charette is asked to contact the commercial crime unit at 204-986-6003 or 204-470-7993, or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.