Armed suspect captured after lengthy pursuit

Poplar Bluff police officers ended a multi-week search early Monday morning when they captured Carlos James Wallace, 30, of the 600 block of Maple Street, following a lengthy pursuit in a stolen vehicle, officers report.

“We have been looking for him two or three weeks as part of investigations into shootings in November,” said Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley.

Whiteley continued, “Thank God no one was hurt or shot as a result of this extremely dangerous apprehension. Just another prime example of the dangers our police officers face every day dealing with dope and the criminal activity associated with it. I certainly commend our officers for a job well done. We will also be asking for ‘no bond’ on this subject and forward the case to the Feds to look at.”

Wallace was arrested on numerous warrants, police officers said, and will face additional charges stemming from the pursuit, stolen vehicle and firearms located inside the vehicle, resisting or interfering with arrest, careless and imprudent driving, failure to stop at stop signs and exceeding the posted speed.

Whiteley explained his officers served search warrants on the vehicle impounded at the C.I.D. garage, which furthered their cases.

Officers found a pistol laying in the driver’s seat and another pistol on the driver’s side floorboard. One of the guns was stolen in St. Louis, Whiteley said. Drugs also reported found in the car tested positive for methamphetamine, he said.

An officer spotted the alleged suspect on Highway 53, around Fair street, late Sunday night. He followed Wallace north on 14th street, according to reports. The chase reportedly went from there to Oakwood to Kendall, along Ninth to Cherry, 10th to Kinzer, back to 10th, Maud to Gardener, back to 10th, then across Main to Harper, Relief, Grand, Euclid, Second to Center. The suspect is alleged to have turned down an alley, where he got stuck.