Smoking a joint nets escaped felon who had been missing since 1999 from Illinois

Stevie Pringle, 50 of Racine is facing charges of OF THC (TETRAHYDROCANNABINOLS) – 2ND AND SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE and OBSTRUCTING AN OFFICER.

According to the criminal complaints Racine Police were dispatched on March 16, 2013, for a narcotics in progress call in the 1800 block of Erie. While enroute police, they were advised by Dispatch that the occupants of the apartment were smoking marijuana.

When officers arrived they observed a black male standing at the open front door to the apartment. As he approached the door, the strong odor of burnt marijuana was observed. The suspect exited the apartment door and began to pull the door shut behind him. As the male tried shutting the door, officers also observed a female, later run into the bedroom on the north side of the apartment. Based on their observations of the odor of burnt marijuana, he placed the male into handcuffs and requested additional cover.

The criminal complaint states that the suspect himself as Paul Williams, but was later identified as Stevie Pringle, police entered the apartment, and reports that laying in plain view on a coffee table in the living room was a partially smoked marijuana cigarette. The suspect asked why police were there and officers indicated that they were dispatched because people were smoking marijuana in the apartment. “Williams” motioned his head towards the marijuana cigarette and uttered, “Yeah, I just smoked a joint, so what.”

Police observed multiple pill bottles on a kitchen counter with the name “Stevie Pringle” on the label. “Williams” insisted that the medication belonged to a homeless individual who frequently stayed at the apartment. After observing six separate medications, Officersl became suspicious of “Williams’” story and attempted to ascertain the truth. The female was asked on two separate occasions what the male party’s name was. She replied both times “Paul Williams”.

Police were not satisfied and told “Mr. Williams” that their intent was to run a fast finger print I.D. check of him once they arrived at the jail. “Williams’” demeanor suddenly changed and he stated, “I have a confession.” He stated that he was actually Stevie Pringle; he said he was in a lot of trouble in Illinois. Turns out that Stevie Pringle was, in fact, an escaped felon who had been missing since 1999. Both Pringle and the female suspect were transported to the Law Enforcement Center without further incident.

The suspect allegedly after being transported to the LEC uttered that he had walked away from a work program and had been living under the alias name “Paul Williams” ever since. Pringle stated he had left because his girlfriend of over 20 years, had been diagnosed with cancer. Pringle also stated that he was convicted of Possession of Dangerous Drugs in Illinois and was facing at least four years incarceration at the time of his escape.

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