FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: |
January 25, 2008 |
Tom Smith, Supervisory Deputy U.S.
Marshal San Antonio (210)
472-6540; or
Lt. Kevin Jordan (830) 743-0351
Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office |
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The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force Arrests Man
Wanted for New Year's Day Murder in Guadalupe County |
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San
Antonio, TX - The Lone Star Fugitive Task
Force (LSFTF) along with the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas
Rangers announce the arrest of homicide suspect, Juan Manual Garcia.
Back on New Years Day 2008, the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office was called
after two men reported seeing the body of Ismael Araujo lying on the ground
outside a residence. An around the clock investigation was begun by the
Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers to find the person or persons
responsible for the murder. Juan Manual Garcia quickly emerged as the
primary suspect and a warrant for his arrest was obtained but Garcia was
nowhere to be found. At this point, the United States Marshals Service
sponsored LSFTF was called in to assist in locating and arresting Garcia.
All of the agencies met together and this team of seasoned fugitive
investigators began to close in on Garcia. Information was recently
developed that placed Garcia in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. After determining
last night that Garcia was staying in a motel in Bartlesville, the
Bartlesville Police Department was contacted. The Bartlesville Police
Department quickly surrounded the motel and utilizing their SWAT team, a
flash bang was tossed through the motel room window, entry was made, and a
surprised Garcia was arrested at 12:05 a.m.
This investigation will continue and if it is determined that anyone
knowingly aided and abetted Garcia in either his flight or in the homicide
itself, they are subject to charges also.
The United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas LaFayette
Collins said, “By combining the resources of the various agencies, we are
able to accomplish many things that one agency by itself, would be hard
pressed to achieve.” Guadalupe County Sheriff Arnold Zwicke had this to say
“I was very confident that we would get Garcia with the team we had
assembled. A special thanks goes out to the Bartlesville Police Department
for their work in this arrest.”
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