Christopher Keup: WMW viewer tips lead to trial-dodger accused of brutally beating Iraq war veteran

KEUP caughtFUGITIVE CAPTURED Feb. 21, 2013 -- Lakewood police say it was multiple WMW viewer tips called into Crime Stoppers of Tacoma/Pierce County, that led to the arrest of Christopher Keup. Acting on the tips, Tacoma police's gang unit tracked down Keup to a house in Tacoma on Thursday night, arrested him without incident, and booked him into the Pierce County jail. FUGITIVE WANTED IN LAKEWOOD, Feb. 15, 2013 – Police are looking for this fugitive who is accused of brutally beating an American hero -- Army veteran who survived his stint in Iraq, only to nearly die here. Cops are looking for Christopher Keup, who is in the wind again. This week, prosecutors issued a warrant for his arrest so that he can stand trial. Retired Master Sgt. Todd Hotis was out with his son at a Lakewood bar reminiscing about fallen Washington State Patrol Trooper Tony Radelescu when cops said Kuep and an accomplice beat him up with pool cue. “He immediately started hitting me several times and I went to defend myself,” Hotis said. “I threw him through a table, I think, to try and get him off (me) and from there it was pretty much flashes of black hitting me over and over." By the time the fight was over, Hotis was left with wounds covering his body. “The viciousness of this attack, the type of crime and the unpredictability of it, I would say he's definitely a threat to anyone who's around him,” Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said. "In a case like this, when the defendant fails to show up to court, he's denying the victim justice, he's denying the community justice, and he's committing a separate crime, which we will charge, bail jumping." Keup is  known to go by the nickname "Kaze." A viewer tip to Crime Stoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County helped Lakewood police catch him last time -- and that tipster got a cash reward. If you know where Keup is hiding out, call 800-222-TIPS. You can text a tip here.