09/06/2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     Man Hunt for Subject in Hebron - Subject Wanted by the  State of Virginia

                   SUBJECT LOCATED BY CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE

Today at 7:53 a.m. a Department of Motor Vehicle Inspector was conducting routine commercial motor vehicle inspections and enforcement on commercial vehicles that were transporting fair equipment and entering the Lions Fairgrounds on Route 85 in Hebron. A vehicle was stopped for one of these inspections and the operator of that truck fled the scene on foot into a wooded area adjacent to Route 85.

State Police Troopers Troop-K and the Hebron Resident State Trooper were notified of this incident and responded to the area.  The white male who had fled from the motor vehicle inspector was identified as JOHNNY R. LOPER.DOB: 12/30/56 by State Police Investigators. Investigators determined that the subject was wanted by the State of Virginia on a Felony Violation of Probation Warrant.

The Connecticut State Police set up a perimeter and all State Police resources responded to the area to search for the wanted subject. Trooper One, several State Police K-9s, and additional personnel were brought to the area to search for this subject.

The subject was identified as Johnny Ray LOPER age 50  DOB 12/30/1956 LOPER was last seen wearing camouflage pants and a maroon hooded sweatshirt and cowboy boots.

At 1:53 p.m. the accused LOPER was located just north of the Hebron Fairgrounds by a Connecticut State Trooper conducting the search.  State Troopers took the accused LOPER into custody without incident  He was transported to Troop-K Colchester where he is being held as a Fugitive From Justice from Virginia.  There were no injuries in this incident.

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M/Sgt. J.Paul Vance