Cape man arrested on robbery, assault charges

Police say a Cape Girardeau man robbed three people trying to buy drugs from him.

Dantrail S. Tipler, 19, of 503 S. Benton St., was arrested Aug. 31 on suspicion of first-degree robbery, armed criminal action, assault on law enforcement, possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest.

Police responded Aug. 30 to the parking lot of Jimmi's Restaurant because of a reported robbery and learned that the three robbery victims had actually wanted to buy a small amount of marijuana, according to the probable-cause statement.

The three men were driving in south Cape Girardeau because they'd been told that they could buy marijuana from sellers along the streets in that neighborhood. They encountered a man offering to sell, and he got into the back seat of their car, according to the statement.

He instructed the driver to pull into an alleyway, then pulled out a revolver and threatened to shoot the driver if he turned.

The suspect ordered everyone in the car to empty their wallets and turn over their cell phones, and they complied.

The victims identified Tipler out of a lineup.

On Aug. 31, officers recovered one of the stolen cell phones from someone reporting that Tipler had slashed her tires when she did not pay him for the item.

The same day, Tipler's vehicle was spotted by a police officer; he was stopped and questioned by officers. As an officer tried to handcuff him, Tipler spun and threw a punch at the officer's face, the statement said. A struggle ensued, and Tipler broke free.

Officers stopped him near 240 S. Benton St. Tipler continued to be aggressive during the arrest, spitting blood at an officer as he was placed in a patrol car, the statement said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245