On the run 29 years, red light trips him up

Cesar Velez-Velez had eluded authorities for nearly three decades.

A simple traffic violation led to his capture.

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Cesar Velez-Velez is being held at the Gwinnett County Detention Center, awaiting extradition on the cocaine charge.

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Velez-Velez, 51, wanted for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, turned right on a red arrow at the intersection of Ga. 324 and Ga. 20 last week.

When he did, Gwinnett County police conducting a “public education campaign” pulled him over and checked his license, which was issued in North Carolina. The officer got a hit from the federal Marshal’s Service identifying Velez-Velez as a federal fugitive since 1980.

Velez-Velez is being held at the Gwinnett County Detention Center, awaiting extradition on the cocaine charge.

Police say most drivers have been treating the red arrow as they would a red light. So in the last two weeks, officers have written over 400 warning citations telling drivers it’s illegal to turn right on a red arrow.