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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: |
July 10, 2008 |
Andrew Deserto (216) 551-6234 |
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Collaborative Law Enforcement Effort Nets
America's Most Wanted Fugitive |
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Peter
J. Elliott, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio, and
Police Chief Michael T. Matulavich, Akron Police Department, announce the
arrest of America’s Most Wanted (AMW) Fugitive Thomas Lollis. Lollis was
arrested at approximately1300 hours today by the United States Marshals
Service Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force (GCVOFTF), with
assistance from the Houston Police Department and the Harris County
Sheriff’s Department in the 10000 block of W. Park Rd., Houston, TX. Task
Force Officers from the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force and the
GCVOFTF developed leads that led them to Lollis who was residing in Houston,
TX.
When Task Force Officers approached the apartment to apprehend Lollis, he
dove out a second story window and fled from officers. Lollis then entered
another apartment damaging property and barreling over a minor child, where
he kicked a window out and dove into an enclosed patio where Task Force
Officers were able to subdue him.
Lollis is charged with the shooting death of a 29 year old black male that
occurred at the corner of 9th and Settlement in Akron, OH on the 5th of
July, 2007. Lollis was believed to be in a verbal argument when he retrieved
a weapon from a nearby parked vehicle and shot the victim 4 times.
Lollis has been on the run since July of 2007, and was aired on the
television show America’s Most Wanted twice since the date of the incident
Lollis was transported to a hospital in Houston for a foot injury he
incurred from his jump from the second story window and will be lodged at
the Harris County Jail, Houston, TX awaiting extradition back to the Akron
area.
U.S. Marshal Peter J. Elliott states, “The arrest of Thomas Lollis
reinforces that partnerships developed by federal, state, and local law
enforcement agencies are truly beneficial to the communities of Summit
County.”
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of a known fugitive is
encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at:
1-866-4-WANTED. Callers may remain anonymous.
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force in Summit County is composed
of the following federal, state, and local agencies: U.S. Marshals Service,
Summit County Sheriff’s Office, City of Akron Police Department, State of
Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, U.S.
Attorney’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Local
city police departments include: Aurora, Barberton, Bath, Boston Heights,
Copley Twp., Cuyahoga Falls, Kent, Lakemore, Norton, Reminderville, Silver
Lake, Stow, Twinsburg, and the University of Akron.
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals can be found at
http://www.usmarshals.gov. |
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