A suspect is still at large and may have fled the Poplar Bluff area after an alleged attempt to shoplift less than $26 in alcohol ignited a three-day manhunt and lock downs for nearly 3,000 children and staff at Poplar Bluff schools, as well as local businesses.
False sightings of Andrew D. Millican have also led to about half a dozen arrests of other men on outstanding warrants, according to police chief Danny Whiteley.
The 29-year-old was reported to be armed with a stollen handgun when he fled Wednesday morning from 10Box Cost-Plus grocery store on Shelby Road, as police were investigating a shoplifting report.
Millican has outstanding warrants from April 2017, after he violated supervised probation, according to Missouri case.net. Millican was placed on probation after receiving a suspended prison sentence for felony burglary and domestic violence charges from Ripley County, Mo.
There have been no new credible sightings of Millican, Whiteley said Saturday morning. The last report occurred Thursday morning, in the area of Spring Street and Westwood Boulevard.
"We think the likelihood of him being gone, back to his home base area (near Annapolis, Mo.) is probably what's happened," Whiteley said.
Millican has been entered into law enforcement systems, he said.
"He can run, but he can't hide forever," Whiteley said.
Millican reported an address in St. Claire, Mo., at the time the Ripley County charges occurred.
He also previously pleaded guilty to a felony burglary charge out of Iron County, Mo., and was sentenced in 2010 to four years in prison. The sentence was suspended and Millican was placed on supervised probation, which was revoked in 2011 for a drug violation, according to case.net.
Millican and a woman were stopped Wednesday by employees of 10Box as they allegedly attempted to steal three bottles of Trave Amaretto and a bottle of Master of Mixes, according to police reports.
When an officer responded, Millican reportedly lied about his name. Millican eventually gave his real name, but then fled from the officer, out the back door of the store and into the nearby woods, according to a report.
The nearby Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center and Three Rivers College campus were locked down, as well as area businesses.
Searches of the area were unsuccessful.
Following sightings Thursday morning, the middle school, early childhood and junior high campuses were locked down.
Law enforcement and school officials said there was never a direct threat to any school, and the lock downs were done as a precaution.
Police have received many reported sightings of Millican since Wednesday morning, coming from Poplar Bluff residents, as well as surrounding counties.
"We've had a number of warrant arrests because of someone seeing a suspicious individual that somewhat matched the description. It turned out quite a few (of the men) had warrants," Whiteley said.
Some of the individuals have also received new charges.
Officers were responding to another possible sighting of Millican at 8:40 a.m. Friday when Howard Henry Bryant, 27, of Poplar Bluff, allegedly attempted to run from officers.
Bryant had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on the original charge of no vehicle registration, according to a police report.
When asked why he ran, Bryant allegedly told officers, "I knew I had a warrant." The man was booked at Butler County jail.
Residents should always contact police if they see someone or something suspicious, Whiteley said.
"We really want to express our appreciation for the citizens' vigilance in watching for this individual and the cooperation of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Butler County Sheriff's Department, our schools and the college," Whiteley said, adding student safety was paramount during this investigation.