U.S. Marshals Arrest St. Charles Fugitive Rapist in New Orleans

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
August 22, 2008	Doug Farrell, Public Affairs Officer (504) 915-3110


U.S. Marshals Arrest St. Charles Fugitive Rapist in New Orleans

On August 21, 2008, at approximately 9:00 p.m., the U.S. Marshals Service - Eastern District of Louisiana (E/LA) Crescent Star Fugitive Task Force (CSFTF) arrested David Wedge in the 3100 block of Ursuline Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. St. Charles Parish investigators allege that Wedge, 28, kidnapped, raped, and beat a woman earlier this month. Wedge had additional warrants for battery by the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. St. Charles Parish detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Wedge on August 13, 2008, and referred the case to the U.S. Marshals Crescent Star Fugitive Task Force. Deputies in New Orleans developed information that Wedge was hiding in or near the French Quarter. After scouring the area for days, investigators discovered Wedge had rented a room on Ursuline Street. He was apprehended without incident and was booked into the Orleans Parish Prison on the above mentioned charges where he awaits extradition to St. Charles Parish. U.S. Marshal Michael Credo stated, “This is the second aggravated rape suspect our Task Force has arrested this week. It highlights the U.S. Marshals commitment to taking dangerous sexual offenders off our streets and provide for a safer community”. The U.S. Marshals Service EDLA sponsored CSFTF established itself in 1999 and is currently receiving extra support from the U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Department of Justice to fight post Hurricane Katrina violent crime and locate sexual predators in the New Orleans metro area. Current CSFTF members include the New Orleans Police Department, Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana Probation and Parole, and the U.S. Border Patrol. Other New Orleans metro area law enforcement agencies participating on a case by case basis include: St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Social Security OIG. For more information on the U.S. Marshals EDLA CSFTF go to www.usmarshals.gov/district/la-e/news/index.html.