Officers find fugitive thanks to child’s tip
A crime stopper tip combined with the honesty of a child led to the capture of a man who had been wanted by authorities for months.
The suspect, Joseph Majors, 27, is in custody following a manhunt which ended with his capture at Treemont Apartments Thursday evening.
According to McMinnville Police Capt. Bryan Denton, the capture came after someone phoned in a tip to the Franklin County Crime Stopper line concerning the whereabouts of Majors. He was wanted in Franklin County on several counts including aggravated assault, violation of probation and failure to pay child support. Investigators there had almost given up catching the suspect since he had eluded arrest for so many months.
However, the phone tip sent Winchester authorities packing to McMinnville where they linked up with city officers and began their manhunt. The search led them to Treemont where they knocked on the door of an apartment there.
“No one would come to the door but finally a voice told them they could find Majors at a nearby apartment,” Denton said. “Then, just as they were about to leave to go to the other apartment they heard a child’s voice talking inside.”
The child, who had heard the adult tell police the wrong apartment number reportedly could be heard saying, “No, he’s not there. He’s in G-2.”
Trusting the honesty of the child, police ran to the apartment before his friends could call and tip him of their arrival. He was captured moments later, much to the delight of Winchester officers.
“The honesty of a child really helped out,” Denton said. “If it hadn’t been for the child, he might have gotten away.”