Police: Man hides in dog kennel, closet in effort to avoid arrest

A Cape Girardeau man escaped police by hiding in a dog kennel to mask his scent, but he was arrested three days later in the attic of someone else’s house, according to a report filed by Cape Girardeau police.

Cape Girardeau police arrested Michael Paul Park, 34, on Monday.

The Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Park with felony resisting arrest Wednesday. His bond was set at $5,000 cash only.

Park was wanted on a warrant out of Butler County, Missouri, for nonsupport, according to a probable-cause statement filed by Sgt. Joey Hann.

Park also was reported to be in possession of stolen rings and was trying to sell them, Hann wrote.

About 5:30 p.m. Nov. 11, Hann had information Park was on a porch in the 1900 block of Bloomfield Street, according to the statement.

Hann parked his patrol car one block east of the residence and approached on foot, Hann wrote.

Park ducked his head down and began walking into a backyard until Hann yelled at him to stop, whereupon he sprinted and jumped over a fence into a neighboring yard, according to the statement.

Hann followed and yelled Park was under arrest, Hann wrote.

The chase spanned several yards, with Hann jumping three fence lines, according to the statement.

Park turned quickly through a gap in one fence and was able to corner Hann next to a tall fence while Park ran behind an outbuilding, Hann wrote.

Hann scaled the fence and rounded the outbuilding but lost sight of Park, according to the statement. This is when Park hid in the dog kennel, Hann wrote.

Cpl. Bryan Blanner searched the area with his K-9, but the search proved unsuccessful, Hann wrote. Blanner was close enough at one point, Park could hear him giving commands to the dog, according to the statement.

Park managed to hide from police all weekend until the owner of the house in the 1900 block of Bloomfield Street where Park was hiding allowed Hann to search his residence Monday, according to the statement. Hann said he found Park hiding in a child-sized closet in the attic behind a series of rafters.

After he was apprehended, Park told Hann about his plan to hide in the dog kennel.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

1900 block of Bloomfield Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.