Case against former Cape officer heads to court

The case against former Cape Girardeau police narcotics detective Paul Tipler is heading to circuit court.

Paul Tipler, 35, was fired from the Cape Girardeau Police Department in December after internal and Missouri State Highway Patrol investigations.

After overseeing a preliminary hearing June 17 and taking the cause under advisement, Judge Hense Winchester submitted a written ruling Monday finding that probable cause existed for the charges against Tipler.

He faces felony charges of stealing, two counts of tampering with evidence, distribution of a controlled substance, two counts of forgery and misdemeanor charges of possession of a defaced firearm -- the serial numbers were marred -- and two counts of patronizing prostitution. One felony of distribution of a controlled substance was dismissed.

Tipler is to appear July 7 for circuit arraignment at the county courthouse in Jackson. His defense attorney is Steve Wilson of Cape Girardeau.

Kevin Zoellner with the Missouri Attorney General's office is serving as a special prosecutor for the case.