A former Poplar Bluff resident wanted in the alleged rape of two children is in custody following an arrest Friday.
Carlos Montez Pawnell, 22, of St. Louis is suspected in the rape of a 4-year-old relative and a 10-year-old relative under an outstanding warrant from Knoxville, Tennessee, according to authorities. The warrant was issued in June.
The investigation of Tennessee officials led them last week to Poplar Bluff, where Pawnell has family, officers said Saturday.
Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley was contacted by Agent Larry Porter with the Department of Homeland Security, St. Louis Field Division and U.S. Marshal Task Force Officer Xavier Blackburn of Illinois.
Pawnell was arrested without incident at 10:55 a.m. Friday in the 500 block of Victor Street, by members of the Poplar Bluff Police Department, U.S. Marshal's Service and the Department of Homeland Security.
The arrest was made through the exchange of information and by conducting surveillance, officers said.
Pawnell is expected to be extradited back to Tennessee. He was booked Friday at the Butler County jail. He also has an outstanding Poplar Bluff warrant for failure to appear on the original charge of trespassing from February 2018.
Whiteley said he would like to thank everyone involved with the investigation. It led to taking a violent sexual predator off the streets, he said.