Mysticalmom
05-01-2008, 01:16 PM
http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2008/01/28/0801280130.php
Suspect In Killing Could Be In City
Wisconsin State Journal :: LOCAL :: C1
Monday, January 28, 2008
By KAREN RIVEDAL krivedal@madison.com
Madison police are asking the public to help them find James Bohanan, the alleged killer of a man on the West Side whom detectives believe may be hiding in Madison, wearing disguises and sleeping with a gun under his pillow.
"We are actively pursuing a variety of different investigative leads and techniques to try to find him," West District Lt. Vic Wahl said. "But in all likelihood, tips and information from the community are going to be of critical importance to our locating and arresting him."
At the same time, the perceived threat Bohanan poses may well be making people uneasy about coming forward with what they know, police said. He allegedly shot 26-year-old Kevin K. Cobbins of Waunakee several times in front of a duplex at 1305 Loreen Drive on July 28 - in cold blood, police and witnesses said, with no provocation and in front of other people at an early morning party there.
"I think it's reasonable, given the notoriety of the crime he committed, that people could be afraid," said Detective Tom Woodmansee. "People are aware of how brazen it was."
A confidential informant who claims to have partied with Bohanan in a South Side apartment in mid-November also recently told detectives that Bohanan has two guns and intends to use them if police try to arrest him.
"Bohanan commented that he would not go down alone and (that) he has extra ammunition to use against the police," said the informant, who was trying to strike a deal to get out of jail, according to court documents filed Dec. 7.
Woodmansee told the informant that such a deal wasn't possible, promising only to report his cooperation to the Dane County district attorney's office, the court file said.
The informant also said Bohanan, 34, is much thinner now and only goes out at night, wearing "hats, hoods and props" to avoid being recognized and arrested.
An arrest warrant for Bohanan, who was previously thought to be hiding in Chicago, has been in effect since the day of the shooting, and cash rewards totaling $3,500 for information leading to his arrest are available from the U.S. Marshals Service and Crime Stoppers.
Woodmansee last week said officers are inclined to believe Bohanan has been in Madison since the shooting, but noted they haven't confirmed that.
"We have people telling us he's coming and going from the Madison area," he said. "We have reason to believe he's been certain places. But we are still waiting for that citizen who wants to collect the reward money to tell us, 'He's here right now.' And that's not happened and that's a little surprising if indeed he is still in this community."
A search on Dec. 6 of the South Side apartment mentioned by the informant turned up neither Bohanan nor any weapons or ammunition tying him to Cobbins' murder. Police officers doing surveillance outside the apartment the night before thought they saw a man matching Bohanan's description leave the building, drive away and then return about an hour later, but he was not arrested.
Woodmansee and Wahl declined to say what complications may have developed that night, but stressed that police will arrest Bohanan wherever and whenever he can be safely apprehended.
"Certainly if officers were in a position to be able to take him into custody or stop someone we believed might be him to check his identity, we obviously would have done that," Wahl said. "He's on the top of our list for people we're looking for and want to take into custody."
If he is found, Bohanan would face a charge of first-degree intentional homicide for the fatal shooting of Cobbins, who had a 4-year-old daughter. According to friends and relatives, Cobbins was a caring father who was trying to avoid ongoing conflicts initiated by Bohanan, who used to date Cobbins' girlfriend.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014. Callers can remain anonymous.
Cobbins' death also set off a wave of community anger and concern about crime in Madison.
Suspect: James P. Bohanan Description: Black male, 5 feet 11 inches, with a tattoo on the inside of his right arm. He was previously listed as weighing 270 pounds, but an informant told police he is much thinner now and only goes out at night, wearing "hats, hoods and props."
Whereabouts: Records indicate Bohanan has had different addresses in Madison and may have connections in Chicago.
To help: Anyone with information about Bohanan or his whereabouts should call Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014. Cash rewards totaling $3,500 for information leading to his arrest are available from the U.S. Marshals Service and Crime Stoppers
Suspect In Killing Could Be In City
Wisconsin State Journal :: LOCAL :: C1
Monday, January 28, 2008
By KAREN RIVEDAL krivedal@madison.com
Madison police are asking the public to help them find James Bohanan, the alleged killer of a man on the West Side whom detectives believe may be hiding in Madison, wearing disguises and sleeping with a gun under his pillow.
"We are actively pursuing a variety of different investigative leads and techniques to try to find him," West District Lt. Vic Wahl said. "But in all likelihood, tips and information from the community are going to be of critical importance to our locating and arresting him."
At the same time, the perceived threat Bohanan poses may well be making people uneasy about coming forward with what they know, police said. He allegedly shot 26-year-old Kevin K. Cobbins of Waunakee several times in front of a duplex at 1305 Loreen Drive on July 28 - in cold blood, police and witnesses said, with no provocation and in front of other people at an early morning party there.
"I think it's reasonable, given the notoriety of the crime he committed, that people could be afraid," said Detective Tom Woodmansee. "People are aware of how brazen it was."
A confidential informant who claims to have partied with Bohanan in a South Side apartment in mid-November also recently told detectives that Bohanan has two guns and intends to use them if police try to arrest him.
"Bohanan commented that he would not go down alone and (that) he has extra ammunition to use against the police," said the informant, who was trying to strike a deal to get out of jail, according to court documents filed Dec. 7.
Woodmansee told the informant that such a deal wasn't possible, promising only to report his cooperation to the Dane County district attorney's office, the court file said.
The informant also said Bohanan, 34, is much thinner now and only goes out at night, wearing "hats, hoods and props" to avoid being recognized and arrested.
An arrest warrant for Bohanan, who was previously thought to be hiding in Chicago, has been in effect since the day of the shooting, and cash rewards totaling $3,500 for information leading to his arrest are available from the U.S. Marshals Service and Crime Stoppers.
Woodmansee last week said officers are inclined to believe Bohanan has been in Madison since the shooting, but noted they haven't confirmed that.
"We have people telling us he's coming and going from the Madison area," he said. "We have reason to believe he's been certain places. But we are still waiting for that citizen who wants to collect the reward money to tell us, 'He's here right now.' And that's not happened and that's a little surprising if indeed he is still in this community."
A search on Dec. 6 of the South Side apartment mentioned by the informant turned up neither Bohanan nor any weapons or ammunition tying him to Cobbins' murder. Police officers doing surveillance outside the apartment the night before thought they saw a man matching Bohanan's description leave the building, drive away and then return about an hour later, but he was not arrested.
Woodmansee and Wahl declined to say what complications may have developed that night, but stressed that police will arrest Bohanan wherever and whenever he can be safely apprehended.
"Certainly if officers were in a position to be able to take him into custody or stop someone we believed might be him to check his identity, we obviously would have done that," Wahl said. "He's on the top of our list for people we're looking for and want to take into custody."
If he is found, Bohanan would face a charge of first-degree intentional homicide for the fatal shooting of Cobbins, who had a 4-year-old daughter. According to friends and relatives, Cobbins was a caring father who was trying to avoid ongoing conflicts initiated by Bohanan, who used to date Cobbins' girlfriend.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014. Callers can remain anonymous.
Cobbins' death also set off a wave of community anger and concern about crime in Madison.
Suspect: James P. Bohanan Description: Black male, 5 feet 11 inches, with a tattoo on the inside of his right arm. He was previously listed as weighing 270 pounds, but an informant told police he is much thinner now and only goes out at night, wearing "hats, hoods and props."
Whereabouts: Records indicate Bohanan has had different addresses in Madison and may have connections in Chicago.
To help: Anyone with information about Bohanan or his whereabouts should call Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014. Cash rewards totaling $3,500 for information leading to his arrest are available from the U.S. Marshals Service and Crime Stoppers