Tip leads to arrest of suspect sought in Cape drug bust

Lorenzo Tate, 17, was captured on a Greyhound bus in Evansville, Ind.

An informant's tip led to the arrest Saturday of one of two fugitives from the drug crackdown on South Hanover Street, Cape Girardeau police said.

Lorenzo Tate, 17, was captured on a Greyhound bus in Evansville, Ind., as he traveled through that city from Atlanta to St. Louis, patrolman Jason Selzer said.

Tate, who was traveling under the name Lorenzo Dodd, was wanted for a June 17 crack sale to an undercover officer. He also faces felony charges of possessing crack for sale and leaving the scene of an accident that caused an injury as well as probation violation on a misdemeanor stealing charge.

The drug sting on South Hanover Street resulted in charges against 14 people. Police made 47 undercover buys of small amounts of crack. Tate's arrest leaves only Lavontay Johnson, 20, of Charleston, Mo., unaccounted for.

Tate was hurt in the crash June 21, but was not placed under arrest while he was being treated for his injuries. He left the hospital without officers noticing.

Cape Girardeau patrolman Mike Wilson learned from an informant that Tate was returning to Missouri, Selzer said. When he was sure Tate was on the bus -- the ticket was purchased while Wilson was on the phone with a Greyhound Bus Lines representative -- he called Evansville police Sgt. Jack Wilson to make the arrest, Selzer said. The two officers are not related.

When the Evansville officer got on the bus, "he saw a young black male dip his head down real low. They knew he had a big tattoo on his forearm, and there it was and they were able to positively identify him," Selzer said.

Tate is considered a juvenile under Indiana law, said Bart O'Connor with the Vanderburgh County, Ind., juvenile office. But since the Missouri courts consider him an adult, he was transferred Monday to the Vanderburgh County adult jail from the county Youth Care Center.

Tate has not appeared in court in Indiana. If he waives extradition, Cape Girardeau County deputies will be sent to Evansville to retrieve him, Selzer said.

Once in custody in Missouri, Tate would be required to post up to $50,000 in bonds to be released, according to court records.

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126