Suspect Taken Into Custody Following Multi-Agency Search

Madison Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A man sought by Fredericktown Police after an overnight search in a residential neighborhood is now in custody.

Authorities say Nathan Strange was apprehended Monday morning after a tip from an anonymous citizen who recognized him from images shared on social media and contacted law enforcement with information on his whereabouts.

Fredericktown Police initially issued an alert Saturday evening, after officers began searching the Pine Castle Estates area for a white male wearing dark clothing. At the time, Strange was wanted in connection with a local misdemeanor offense and later determined to be a felony parole absconder. According to authorities, the incident began when Strange, who had been staying at the Madison Inn Hotel, allegedly walked across the street and stole a bottle of alcohol from a local business.

Before employees could report the theft, Strange left the area and traveled toward town, eventually entering the New Era Bank drive-up property. A night-shift officer conducting routine patrol observed a suspicious individual on the bank property and made contact, unaware a theft had just occurred. When asked for identification, the suspect fled on foot. The officer pursued Strange through multiple yards and private properties, with the suspect last seen running toward the river through the Pine Castle Estates subdivision. Additional officers responded and conducted a coordinated search, prompting police to notify residents that officers would be present in the area. During the search, dispatch confirmed Strange was a parole absconder, escalating the situation and prompting continued public alerts.

Authorities say the decision to notify the public was made in the interest of transparency and community safety, as the incident evolved from a suspicious-person call into a theft investigation involving a parole absconder.

Police credit the successful arrest to cooperation between the public and multiple agencies.

No injuries were reported during the incident.