Search for Ellington man ends with his arrest

The Ellington man who was the subject of a recent endangered silver advisory may face charges in Butler County after he allegedly wrote a bad check for nearly $30,000 for the purchase of a new car.

Dorey

The advisory was issued by Ellington Police Department after Richard Elmer Dorey, 78, was last seen at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Brent B. Tinnin Manor, 200 Euel Polk Drive.

Dorey was last seen leaving the facility on foot toward Highway 21, possibly en route to the Poplar Bluff area.

On Wednesday afternoon, Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. Eric Ganime stopped a 2018 Ford Edge at Cherokee Pass in Madison County, according to Poplar Bluff Police Detective Andy Cleaveland.

Ganime, he said, stopped the vehicle “for the silver advisory” based on “information that (Dorey) could be in that vehicle.”

During the traffic stop, Cleaveland said, the police department was “alerted that Mr. Dorey had possibly obtained the vehicle he was in fraudulently by writing a bad check.”

At about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dorey wrote a check for $29,557 for the purchase of a 2018 Ford Edge from Baldwin Ford, said Cleaveland, who indicated Dorey “gave a story to (the dealership) that he had deposited money” into his account to cover the check.

When Ganime stopped the car, Cleaveland said, it had a dealer plate that registered to Baldwin Ford on it.

Four sets of license plates, which had been reported stolen off vehicles in the Walmart Supercenter parking lot between 7:15 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, also were found inside the car, Cleaveland said.

Due to the time of day, Cleaveland said, he was unable to contact Dorey’s bank to see if the check was good, “so to play it safe, he was released at the scene.”

The car, Cleaveland said, was returned to Baldwin Ford and the license plates were seized.

First thing Thursday morning, Cleaveland said, he contacted Dorey’s bank and was told the check “absolutely was not going to be a good check because he had deficient funds.”

Based on that information, Cleaveland said, he was completing the paperwork Thursday to request charges on Dorey for stealing by deceit, four counts of stealing and passing a bad check when “Mr. Dorey shows up at the (Butler County) Sheriff’s Department, demanding to know what is going on.”

Cleaveland subsequently contacted, and he met Dorey at the sheriff’s department.

After being told of his rights, Dorey was interviewed.

“During the interview, he admits to passing the bad check; (he) refuses to admit to (having) anything to do with stealing the license plates,” Cleaveland said.

At the conclusion of the interview, Dorey was booked at the Butler County jail.

Cleaveland said he has “no clue” how Dorey got from Ellington to Poplar Bluff on Tuesday.

At the time Dorey was reported missing, the alert indicated he suffered from dementia and hypoglycemia.

“He was absolutely coherent during the interview,” said Cleaveland, who indicated the interview was recorded. “He was lucid, well spoken, aware of his surroundings and what the situation was and in my communication with him, I did not detect any dementia or mental health issues.”

Cleaveland said Dorey has an extensive criminal history in Missouri, Michigan and California for financial crimes and theft.

At this time, Dorey, according to Casenet, is charged with the Class D felony of stealing in Cape Girardeau County.

That case was filed Jan. 29 in connection with a Nov. 3 incident, which had been investigated by the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Dorey was released on an own-recognizance bond on July 1. He is to appear before Associate Circuit Judge Frank Miller on Aug. 8 for arraignment on the charge.