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For Immediate Release |
Contact: |
| June 15, 2009 |
Chris Deaton Deputy United States Marshal Tyler, Texas (903) 590-1370 ext. 230 (Office) |
| New Mexico Fugitive Arrested in Longview |
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 Today,
Azarias Anthony Austin was arrested by officers of the Joint East Texas
Fugitive Task Force in Longview, TX. Austin was wanted by the Albuquerque
New Mexico Police Department on arrest warrants for Aggravated Assault with
a Deadly Weapon (Firearm), Assault with Intent to Commit a Violent Felony,
Robbery, Tampering with Evidence and Conspiracy. Information was developed by the U.S. Marshals office in New Mexico that Austin had fled to East Texas in the Longview area. The Marshals New Mexico Office forwarded this information to the Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force (JETFT) in Tyler. Early this morning Task Force officers from the US Marshals, Smith County DA’s office and the Longview Police Department made a house call on Austin who was arrested and is in the Gregg County Jail awaiting extradition back to New Mexico. It is alleged that Austin participated in a Robbery in Albuquerque on April 7th of this year in which one victim was shot and critically injured. The second suspect in this robbery has already been caught and taken into custody in New Mexico. Annually, investigations carried out by the U.S. Marshals result in the apprehension of approximately 34,000 federal fugitives. More federal fugitives are arrested by Marshals than all other federal agencies combined. The Joint East Texas Fugitive Apprehension Task Force is a team comprised of law enforcement officers from 56 law enforcement agencies in the East Texas area. The task force objective is to seek out and arrest federal, state, and local fugitives, mainly those with violent criminal histories to include sex offenders. Last year, U.S. Marshals task forces arrested more than 27,000 state and local fugitives on felony charges. Additional information about the U.S. Marshals can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov. |