Fugitive arrested in Selma
Published 12:00 am Thursday, January 6, 2005
A fugitive from Illinois was captured in Selma Wednesday after local police found him hiding in his parents’ trailer on County Road 540.
Jamaal Larue Cannon, 19, considered “armed and dangerous” by Illinois police, was wanted for robbing a Chicago-area Subway while armed with a handgun and violating his parole conditions.
Lt. David Evans, SPD public information officer, said Selma police received a tip that the suspect was at his parents’ residence at 140 County Road 540 and proceeded to stake out the area.
“They arrived at the trailer and placed themselves in tactical positions to prevent Cannon from escaping,” Evans said.
Evans said officers informed Cannon’s parents that they had first hand knowledge of his presence inside the trailer, but the parents denied he was there and attempted to conceal Cannon from officers.
After several failed attempts to persuade Cannon to surrender, Evans said, officers were forced to enter the trailer and conduct a room-to-room search.
“Captain Joe Harrell found Cannon hiding at the bottom of a bathroom closet,” Evans said. “At this point, he was taken into custody without incident.”
Cannon is currently being held at the Dallas County Jail until he can be extradited back to Illinois.
In addition to Cannon, officers also arrested his parents on felony charges of Hindering Prosecution or Apprehension first-degree.
The parents, Joyce Simpson, 49, and Travis Simpson, 47, were both taken to the Dallas County Jail and placed under a $5,000 bond.
Detective Tory Neely was the lead investigator in this case.
Also participating in the arrest were Harrell, Lt. Susan Smith, Lt. Mike Harris, Sgt. Scott Swanson, and officers Walter Curtis and Willie Baker.
Evans said he had few details about the Illinois robbery, but praised officers for their work in bringing the fugitive to justice.