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For Immediate Release |
Contact: |
| January 18, 2009 |
Western District of Arkansas - Johnny Larkin Inspector & Public Affairs Officer (479) 783-5215; USMS Headquarters Public Affairs (202) 307-9065 |
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Task Force Nabs Level 4 Sex Offender and
Parole Absconder Together Following Road Trip |
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Fayetteville, AR - The U.S. Marshals and
Benton County Sheriff’s Office, a member of the Northwest Arkansas Sex
Offender and Violent Crime Task Force, announce the arrest of Patricia
Thompson, age 43, and Larry Cook, age 69. Following a three week long
investigation, and with the help of a confidential source developed by the
Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Thompson was arrested on January 17, 2009,
in Benton County. Cook, a level 4 sex offender, who was traveling with
Thompson, was also arrested. Thompson was wanted in Missouri for Parole Violations, felony fraud, and theft of checks. She was also wanted in Arkansas for misdemeanor fraud charges in Carroll County. Larry Cook, a level 4 sex offender, who is registered in Benton County, was arrested for hindering apprehension, a class D felony in Arkansas. Cook and Thompson were traveling together, in one vehicle, and Cook knew Thompson was wanted by authorities. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office and the NWA Sex Offender & Violent Crime Task Force worked exhaustively to bring both fugitives to justice. While Cook was not technically in violation of his sex offender registration requirements, his being unaccounted for while traveling with a known fugitive deeply concerned investigators. With the help of a confidential source, and several law enforcement agencies, Thompson and Cook were tracked back to Benton County following what was apparently a road trip together that may have lasted more than a week. Thompson also knew she was wanted, but failed to turn herself in to authorities. Both fugitives were arrested in the same vehicle, without incident, following a well orchestrated traffic stop in Benton County. Thompson and Cook are being held in the Benton County Detention Center and are awaiting disposition of their respective cases. The Northwest Arkansas Sex Offender and Violent Crime Task Force is comprised of the U.S. Marshals Service, Arkansas Department of Community Corrections, Benton, Washington, Madison, and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Siloam Springs, and the Bentonville Police Departments. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office continues to manage the Federal grant that funds the Task Force. Every year, the U.S. Marshals and its associated Task Forces throughout the country arrest more fugitives than all federal law enforcement agencies combined. Last year, this number was more than 73,000 state and local fugitives and more than 36,000 federal fugitives. Additional information about the U.S. Marshals can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov. |