Warrant Watch: Inside how U.S. Marshals arrest violent fugitives
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Warrant Watch is a partnership with NBC4 and the U.S. Marshals Service, highlighting violent fugitives in the community.
On Wednesday, our team was there to see the Task Force arrest a criminal wanted for illegal discharge of a weapon into a dwelling. The Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) searches for violent offenders and assists partner agencies in tracking those wanted suspects.
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The SOFAST team always makes sure to have its bases covered when executing warrants. Officers make sure to cover the front and back of the house and keep an eye on the top of the house because they never know where their intended target will pop out.
The team was looking for Robert Liston. He was charged with illegal discharge of a weapon into a dwelling, harassment and death threats. After several minutes of trying to get Liston to come outside, he did not come out the front door.
'He's coming out the top. Hey, go back inside! He's running, He's running,' Deputy U.S. Marshal Kevin Deppe yelled at Liston.
Liston tried running, but didn't make it far. He laid on the awning of the home he was at and within minutes, the team was inside the home and dragged him back through the window and into a cruiser. Liston was safely taken into custody after that.
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'There are times when people know that the game is up, the jig is up, and they come to the door and they surrender,' Deppe said. 'However, unfortunately, there are plenty of times where people do try to hide, they try to run, and sometimes they try to fight.'
Deppe said that there was a chance Liston was likely armed, so when the intended target doesn't immediately surrender, the team may have to enter the home and get a suspect themselves.
'The scary part of these situations is that we are going into an unknown and the targets are in their known space, so they know all the little hidey holes,' Deppe said. 'They know what they can get away with. For us, we're going into an unknown situation. Our awareness and our level of threat is at maximum.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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