Butler Police Department News Release

On April 26th at approximately 1850 hrs, Butler Officers were dispatched to the Family Center concerning a person trying to pass a stolen check. Upon arrival Officers were advised by dispatch that the suspect left in a green Dodge Grand Caravan headed westbound towards Rice Road.

Officers observed the suspect’s vehicle in Wilson Tire’s parking lot traveling westbound. Officers attempted to stop the suspect, 43 year old Donald Michael Cooper, and the green Dodge Caravan fled through Country Mart’s parking lot at a high rate of speed, then drove across Sunset Street, continuing westbound between Don’s Tires and the Sear’s store in the grass. Officers located the Green Van stuck in the mud on the south side of the Days Inn Hotel building unoccupied.

Officers then drove behind the Days Inn Hotel to locate the suspect, but noticed a broken window leading into a room. Officers entered room 112 and located the keys to the suspect’s vehicle on the ground of the room in the broken glass. The hotel was evacuated and a perimeter was set up around the building by the Bates County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri Highway Patrol and the Butler Police Department.

The Bates County TAC Team made entry and searched the hotel locating Cooper hiding in a bathroom closest on the first floor. The hotel was searched for any additional suspects, but none were found. A review of the hotel’s security video showed Cooper walking in and hiding in the bathroom. Contraband and other evidence was located in his vehicle. After processing the crime scene a Kansas City, Kansas Police Badge was found in the closet where Cooper was hiding, but the suspect was not a law enforcement officer.

Cooper was placed into the Bates County Jail and he is charged with burglary, felony resisting arrest, forgery, possession of forgery instrumentality, attempted forgery of a blank checks, possession of open container of alcohol, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. During the criminal investigation it was discovered that Cooper has several aliases and has a extensive criminal past.

The Butler Police Department wishes to thank everyone for their help and also apologizes for the inconvenience during this incident. The Butler Police Department will always error on the side of caution to keep its citizens safe from harm.

[caption id="attachment_4104" align="alignleft" width="300"] Donald Michael Cooper[/caption]