Fugitive Featured on "America's Most Wanted" Caught in Hazelwood

Tuesday night St. Louis area law enforcement agencies aided the U.S. Marshals in arresting a suspect wanted in the rape of a child in Washington state after finding him living in Hazelwood.

The man was identified as Johnnie G. Brown, 51, of the on Boulder Creek Court in Hazelwood.

He was featured on the television show America's Most Wanted on April 23. St. Louis County Police Officer Rick Eckhard said it was that airing that lead to Brown's arrest.

"The tip came from someone who was watching the America's Most Wanted episode," he said. "He's been on the run since 2001 and that person said they saw him in the St. Louis area in 2009."

The show's Web site lists him as a "Washington drug dealer" and "child rapist." Brown was sought for felony charges alleging him of raping child, domestic violence, incest and other unrelated warrants, according to St. Louis County Police. The crimes took place in the Tacoma, Wash.

According to America's Most Wanted Brown was accused of abusing several relatives, ages 11 - 16. He fled town during the trial on the rape charge and was convicted even though he wasn't there.

The St. Louis County Fugitive Task Force worked with St. Louis Violent Offenders Unit and the U.S. Marshals to arrest Brown.

"He is sitting in county jail," Eckhard said. "No bond was set for Brown because he's awaiting extradition to Washington."

America's Most Wanted features crime stories about fugitives and seeks tips from viewers to help capture suspects. The show, which claims to have helped to capture more than 1,000 fugitives throughout its 24 year existence was canceled last week, according to Deadline.com.