FUGITIVE CAPTURED AFTER CHASE IN CAPE

Handcuffed and seat-belted into a Cape Girardeau Police patrol car, detained while waiting for a canine unit to sniff his trail, Mareo Bell declined to comment on the Hollywoodesque flight from police that had just ended Wednesday evening.

Bell, 27, of Cape Girardeau reportedly reached speeds in excess of 60 miles an hour in a blue Monte Carlo while fleeing from officers.

He reportedly had spotted the officers as they pulled into the driveway of his residence at 541 S. Sprigg, about to serve him with a federal warrant for four counts of distributing a cocaine-based substance.

The chase proceeded from Jefferson to Highway 74 to Kingshighway to Broadway, with Bell racking up traffic violations along the way, police said.

"He at one stage ran a vehicle off the roadway at Ellis and Themis," reported Sgt. Kevin Orr.

About 5:30 p.m., Bell crashed his Monte Carlo into two parked cars at Ellis and Themis and fled on foot.

"What I heard is all the sirens," said T James McHaney of Themis Street. "Then I heard the crash. It was weird, hearing the sirens before the crash."

The fugitive was captured minutes later a few blocks north by Cpl. Rick Price.

"We were serving a federal warrant and apparently he didn't want to be arrested," Price said with a grin.

Marijuana and crack cocaine were discovered in the Monte Carlo, police reported.

Bell will likely be released into the custody of federal authorities today to face the federal drug charges.