POPLAR BLUFF SCHOOLS PLACED ON LOCKDOWN WEDNESDAY DURING SEARCH FOR SHOPLIFTING SUSPECT
Police in Poplar Bluff are searching for a suspect in a shoplifting investigation.
According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, authorities were searching for 29 year old Andrew Millican yesterday in the wooded area near the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center.
Millican is wanted in connection to a shoplifting investigation and has two active felony warrants for his arrest.
KWOC News spoke with Lieutenant Josh Stewart with the Poplar Bluff Police Department yesterday about the incident.
“Our officers responded to 10 Box on Shelby Road in reference to a shoplifting complaint. Once they arrived they went to contact the male subject who was one half of the incident he subsequently fled through the store and out the back and into the wooded area behind the store.
They gave chase, however once in the woods which is a very dense wooded area, they lost sight of him and secured the perimeter. We have conducted an area search, on foot and with canines, and haven't been able to locate any signs of the subject. At this point it's unknown if the perimeter was sufficient enough to keep him contained within it, or whether the subject had already gotten outside the perimeter.
We have since pulled that perimeter however we are going to continue keeping some additional units in the area. The permitted we had extended from Camp Road to Shelby Road and then basically from the backside of the kindergarten Center to Wallpaw estates area, which is basically behind the wooded area where he was last seen running into.
We had received information that he was armed at the time from the female that was accompanying him at the business. We have not been able to confirm that. According to her it was a firearm that was stolen during a burglary yesterday, however the area they talked about or that she talked about where the burglary occurred we were unable to locate anything that have been reported in that area.
If there is anything that arouses any suspicion, if they hear their dogs barking outside out of place, or anything, anybody walking in the area, call us, we will gladly go check it out. Like I said we're going to have some additional personnel in the area, so you'll probably see a stepped up police presence within the area.
We are cautioning residents in that area to go ahead and make sure that, obviously keys aren’t left in cars, homes are locked, cars are locked, things of that nature. This subject does have a couple felony warrants, one of which is for burglary, so he's known to commit thefts.”
During the search, schools in the area, including the Kindergarten Center and Three Rivers College, were placed under lock down as a precaution.
Anyone who has information on his whereabouts should contact the Poplar Bluff Police Department at 573-785-5776.
MULTIPLE AREA SCHOOLS RECEIVING RUMORS OF THREATS
Multiple schools in Southeast Missouri have been dealing with rumors of threats in the wake of the school shooting last week in Florida.
According to the Kennett Police Department, Tuesday night officers were advised that school officials had received information regarding a possible threat that was made toward a school in Kennett.
Upon subsequent investigation, a juvenile was located and detained. The juvenile was later turned over to the Dunklin County Juvenile Office. Police say that the purported threat was deemed as unfounded.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department says that they, along with Greenville School Administrators, have received and investigated several general complaints concerning Greenville student safety.
The Sheriff’s Department says that several people have been interviewed and no creditable threat has been revealed.
In New Madrid County, a juvenile has been taken into custody in connection to a rumor.
According to a post on the New Madrid County R-1 School District Facebook page, a NMCC High School student was in juvenile custody last night after orchestrating a rumor that another student was going to "shoot up" the school. The post says that the rumor was a lie.
Authorities in Sikeston say that the Sikeston Department of Public Safety and Sikeston R-6 have been made aware of some alleged threats that were generated on Facebook about a possible shooting at a high school.
Police say that the threat was investigated and they believe these threats to be unfounded. Officers will be present at the school today as a general precaution to ensure the safety of the students.
ANOTHER ROUND OF RAIN TO MOVE INTO OUR AREA TONIGHT
After a quick break from rain today, another storm system will be moving into our area this evening and tonight.
According to a Flood Watch issued by the National Weather Service, some areas of Southeast Missouri have already received two inches of rainfall this week. Weather officials say that six to eight inches of total rainfall is forecast for most of our listening area through Saturday night.
On Friday, we could see occasional rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall, followed by the possibility of severe thunderstorms on Saturday. Weather officials say that heavy rain from thunderstorms on Saturday could create flash flooding and make flooding worse along area rivers and streams.
KENNETT POLICE INVESTIGATING THEFT FROM AREA BUSINESS
Authorities in Kennett are investigating a theft from an area business.
According to the Kennett Police Department, on Tuesday afternoon, officers were dispatched to D&R Steakhouse on Independence Avenue in reference to a theft.
At the business officers found that someone had cut and removed copper tubing from the walk in cooler and other appliances in the rear of the store.
Officials say that no suspects have been identified and the incident is still under investigation. Anyone with any information in connection to the theft is being asked to contact the Kennett Police Department.
