Suspect in Illinois burglary, battery flees police, is caught near SEMO

A man suspected in an Illinois burglary and assault fled from police in Cape Girardeau questioning him Tuesday, but was arrested less than an hour later.

Local and Illinois State Police officers went to 336 N. Sprigg St. at 10:48 a.m. to question the man about a March 27 burglary and aggravated battery in East Cape Girardeau, Ill., Cape Girardeau police spokesman Jason Selzer said.

But the suspect "bolted" upstairs and jumped out a window, he said. Police scoured the area for nearly an hour before finding the man hiding in a yard at 777 Watkins Drive, near the campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

The man arrested was also suspected in the theft of a green Ford Aerostar van the same day as the Illinois robbery, Selzer said.

The owner of the vehicle parked the van at 336 N. Sprigg St. around 10 a.m. March 27 and noticed the vehicle was missing around 2 p.m., Selzer said.

The victim, a woman, knew the suspect, but Selzer did not know the nature of their relationship.

Selzer could not provide details of the East Cape Girardeau incident, and an Illinois State Police official did not return messages.

No charges had been filed against the man in custody as of Tuesday evening.