Arrest of Martwain Phillips

James R. Dougan, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Michigan announced "that on February 15, 2007, Martwain Phillips was arrested in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by Deputy U.S. Marshals from Grand Rapids". Phillips was arrested on a warrant issued in Bloomington, Illinois for the homicide of Phillips' wife on February 13, 2007. It is alleged that Phillips strangled his wife in front of their children.

Information developed shortly after the homicide by the Bloomington Police Department and the
United States Marshals Service's Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force suggested that Phillips had
fled Bloomington, Illinois, and was enroute to Grand Rapids where it was believed that Phillips
may have a family member. On the evening of February 13, 2007, this information was forwarded to the U.S. Marshals Service in Grand Rapids. With this information the Grand Rapids' Marshals Office began its investigation that revealed that Phillips was a Grand Rapids
native with numerous ties to the Grand Rapids community. The Grand Rapids investigation continued until the evening of February 16, 2007, when information was developed that Phillips
was hiding at his brother's residence located at 1128 Alexander Street SE, Grand Rapids. On
February 16, 2007, at 9:30 p.m., Deputy U.S. Marshals, assisted by the Grand Rapids Police
Department, arrested Phillips at his brother's residence without incident. Phillips is currently
lodged at the Kent County Jail waiting extradition back to Bloomington, Illinois.

Contact Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Bruce A. Nordin at (616) 456-2438 for additional information
regarding the Phillips investigation and arrest.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals can be found at www.usmarshals.gov.