Washington, D.C. - In the
pre-dawn hours this morning, Deputy U.S. Marshals and agents of
Mexico’s Agencia Federal de Investigationes (AFI) delivered fugitive
Jorge Arroyo-Garcia to the Orange County California jail in Santa
Ana. Garcia is a vicious fugitive wanted for the murder of Los
Angeles County Deputy Sheriff David March four years ago. Garcia was
flown from Mexico City to Tijuana late last night, where the
Marshals and AFI agents turned him over to Los Angeles County
Sheriff’s Department Investigators. A convoy of Sheriff’s Deputies,
California Highway Patrol Officers, and Deputy Marshals accompanied
the fugitive to jail.
Arroyo-Garcia, also known as Armando
“Chato” Garcia, has been in a Mexican prison awaiting extradition
since last February. He was arrested in Tonala, Jalisco, Mexico. AFI
agents located Garcia thanks to information provided by the Los
Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the Marshals’ Los Angeles
Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the Mexico City Field Office of
the U.S. Marshals. The case gained national attention because of the
heinous nature of the murder, and the fact that Arroyo-Garcia’s
flight to Mexico was profiled several times on television’s
“America’s Most Wanted.” The case also was featured on numerous
local and national news programs, including web sites such as “www.escapingjustice.com.”
“With today’s extradition of
Arroyo-Garcia, an accused killed is one step closer to justice. We
also hope his return brings a bit of peace to Deputy March’s family
and colleagues,” said U.S. Marshals Service Director John F. Clark.
“This example of international cooperation shows that no fugitive is
safe beyond a border and we will continue to relentlessly pursue
those who run from the law.”
A Mexican national and known drug
dealer, “Chato” Garcia has a long history with Los Angeles law
enforcement. He has numerous arrests for crimes such as possession
of a tec-9 machine pistol and narcotics distribution. On three
occasions he had been deported back to Mexico, only to return. He
allegedly had bragged to friends that he would never be taken alive
and pledged to kill any officer who tried to arrest him.
Arroyo-Garcia is accused of killing
Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff David March during a routine
traffic stop on April 29, 2002. At 10:30 that morning, Deputy March
had initiated a traffic stop on a 1998 black Nissan. He entered the
Nissans’ license plate number into his mobile data terminal and then
approached the driver. Deputy March never made it to the driver’s
car. Police reports indicate that the Deputy was shot multiple times
in the face, neck and chest. The shooter fled, leaving Deputy March
to die on the side of the road. Deputy March left behind a wife and
daughter.
Investigations uncovered a photograph
of the driver, and then ultimately a name. Garcia is alleged to have
bragged to friends about the murder and may have even phoned local
law enforcement, threatening to kill any police officer who sought
him. Officials immediately suspected that Arroyo-Garcia had fled to
Mexico.
Chief Inspector John Clark, Task
Force Commander of the U.S. Marshals Los Angeles Regional Fugitive
Task Force, applauded the hard work of the L.A. County Sheriff’s
Department, the District Attorney’s Office, agents from Mexico’s
Federal Investigative Agency, as well as Deputy Marshals serving in
the United States and assigned to the agency’s field office in
Mexico City. He particularly noted the exemplary level of
cooperation among the agencies. “This extradition is a perfect
example of the international law enforcement community working as a
team, and working alongside the judicial systems of two
governments,” said Commander Clark. “That kind of cooperation
ensured that Garcia would be caught and brought to justice.”
“Many people believe they can commit
murder here in Los Angeles and simply run to Mexico and hide,” said
Adam Torres, United States Marshal for the Central District of
California. “Garcia’s arrest and extradition is just one more
example of how wrong they are. The District Attorney’s Office, the
United States Marshals, and Mexico’s federal agents have a message
for any of you hiding in Mexico,” he continued, “we will work
together, combine our recourses, then we’ll find you and bring you
to justice.”
Each year, the U.S. Marshals
apprehend more federal fugitives than all other federal law
enforcement agencies combined. For more information on fugitive task
forces, go to:
http://www.usmarshals.gov/investigations/taskfrcs/tskforcs.htm.
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