Police: Cape man charged with DWI after forcing school bus to shoulder

A Cape Girardeau man placed on supervised probation earlier this month was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly drove recklessly while intoxicated on Sprigg Street and unlawfully passed a school bus on Southern Expressway.

Cape Girardeau police first encountered Sola Depree Jr., 48, outside his residence Wednesday afternoon after he contacted a Southeast Missouri clinic, asking to speak to his psychiatrist.

According to a probable-cause affidavit filed in the case, Cody Farrow, a patrolman with the department, asked Depree if he was suicidal. Dupree said no. The officer told Depree to find a ride to the clinic but not drive.

Five minutes later, Farrow wrote, he saw Depree speeding on Sprigg Street and swerve into oncoming traffic, allegedly forcing a school bus and a truck to the shoulder of Southern Expressway.

The Cape Girardeau Police Department recently issued Depree a summons for driving with a suspended license. He pleaded guilty Nov. 4 to misdemeanor domestic assault; Associate Circuit Court Judge Gary A. Kamp sentenced Depree to two years of supervised probation and ordered him to not use illegal substances or alcohol and to complete an anger management course.

Depree had a domestic assault conviction in April and was also convicted of driving with a suspended driver's license in 1989 and 1995. Depree pleaded guilty to a driving while intoxicated charge in September.

No hearing has been set Wednesday's charges of driving while intoxicated and without a valid driver's license.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent Address:

Sprigg Street, Cape Girardeau, MO