Armed Homicide Suspect Arrested in the Tampa Bay Area
Tampa, FL - A man wanted for
Federal Probation Violation out the District of West Virginia,
Charleston was arrested in Wesley Chapel Florida. On November 17,
2007, the U.S. Marshals Tampa Bay Area Fugitive Task Force (TBAFTF)
coordinated with the, Pasco County Sheriff’s Department based on a
leads sent from the U.S. Marshals Service in West Virginia helped
located the fugitive in the Wesley Chapel Florida area. The combined
efforts of Law Enforcement lead to the arrest of the fugitive around
12:15 AM Sunday Morning, November 18, 2007.
Matthew Paul Morris, 35 years old, was wanted for Federal Probation
Violation for prior convictions of Bank Robbery, Narcotics charges,
and Weapons Possession charges. Morris is the number one suspect in
a recent murder in Okeechobee County. Morris is currently out on
Bond after being arrested by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and
charged with two counts of Assault with the intent to Kill, Felon in
Possession of a Firearm, and Failure to Stop.
Members of the Task Force tracked Morris to a residence in Wesley
Chapel Florida. Morris was arrested without incident at the
residence. Morris was in possession of a 9mm Glock handgun, AK-47
Assault rifle, and narcotics. It later was discovered that the
residence housed Latin King Gang members. Additionally, a Tech-9
machine gun was located with four large capacity magazines, and to
include bomb making materials. The Alcohol Tobacco Firearms, and
Explosives (ATF) Agent and the Pasco County Narcotics team respond
to the residence. Morris will more than like will face additional
charges.
The U.S. Marshals Tampa Bay Area Fugitive Task Force is made up of
Federal, State and Local law enforcement officers. The members of
the Task Force combine resources and efforts daily to track down
violent fugitives of Justice in the Tampa Bay Area and Nation Wide
through networking with Task Forces across the country.
For more information about the U.S. Marshals Service, visit
http://www.usmarshals.gov.
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