Arrest of Roderick Butler

A fugitive wanted for Failure to Appear in Delaware and Possession of a Weapon by a Prohibited Person was arrested this morning in Philadelphia by the U.S. Marshals First State Fugitive Task Force with assistance from the U.S. Marshals E/PA Fugitive Task Force, Philadelphia Police Department, and the Philadelphia Fire Department. Task Force Officers, including U.S. Marshals, New Castle County Police, Delaware State Police, Delaware Probation and Parole Officers arrested Roderick Butler, 31 years of age, at 7:00 a.m. at a residence in the 800 block of Belmont Avenue in Philadelphia.

Butler had been a fugitive since February 12, 2007 when he and his co-defendant failed to appear for the last part of their criminal trial in Delaware, “the reading of the verdict”. Task Force Officers developed information that Butler had fled Delaware and might be residing in Philadelphia. After conducting additional investigation, Task Force Officers determined that Butler was residing in his parent’s residence in the 800 block of Belmont Avenue. After answering the Task Force Officer’s knock at the door, both parents denied any knowledge of Butler’s whereabouts. A subsequent search of the residence revealed that Butler had been sleeping there, and upon hearing the Task Force Officers knock, he fled out a window and climbed to a 3rd story roof of an adjacent building. With the assistance of the Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments, Butler was located hiding next to a rooftop air conditioner unit and was arrested without further incident. A subsequent search of Butler’s bedroom yielded 9mm and .38 caliber ammunition.

Butler was immediately transported to the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia for his initial appearance on federal violation of probation charges.