Brutal murder suspect caught in Charlotte

01:03 PM EST on Thursday, January 10, 2008

By MICHELLE BOUDIN / WCNC

Fugitive arrested outside Charlotte apartments CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A fugitive on the run from Raleigh, wanted for bludgeoning a man with a baseball bat then stabbing him, was arrested here in Charlotte.

Detectives say that man is an illegal immigrant who was reportedly about to make a run for it by leaving the country.

But Charlotte police officers caught up with him at his cousin's house on North Tryon Street after a tip and a stakeout.

Police say Ricardo Serpas made a call from a payphone on North Tryon Street to someone in Raleigh. Detectives there tracked the call and gave the number to investigators here in Charlotte who tracked Serpas down.

“In canvassing the area we found an individual who believes they saw him make that phone call and that led us in the right direction of what type of vehicle to look for,â€