Latest news with #fugitives
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Wanted in Berks, July 13, 2025
The Berks County sheriff's department is seeking the following fugitives: Xzavion Jackson-Washington • Xzavion Jackson-Washington, 21, whose last known address was in the 900 block of Washington Street, Reading, is wanted on charges of aggravated assault and carrying a firearm without a license. Reading police said he pulled a black handgun and fired into a vehicle in the 300 block of North Front Street on Sunday, July 6. The victims were a female, a male and a 3-year-old child. The incident was captured on video and Jackson-Washington identified as the shooter. He is described as 6 feet and 160 pounds. Thomas Wakefield • Thomas Wakefield, 51, whose last known address was in the first block of George Avenue, Wyomissing, is wanted on felony receiving stolen property charges. West Reading police said he received and disposed of a .40-caliber loaded firearm belonging the victim. Wakefield was observed on surveillance video throwing a backpack with a firearm inside it into a garbage receptacle. He is described as 5 feet 11 inches and 230 pounds. Anyone with information about these fugitives is urged to contact the warrants division of the sheriff's department at 610-478-6390. Find the complete list of Berks County's most wanted at
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The gangster guide to Dubai: The criminals from Manchester, Liverpool and beyond who call it home - and the tricks they use to live it up... without alerting authorities
For years, a notorious Irish crime family has held court in one of the most luxurious places on Earth. They are among the legions of gangsters, drug smugglers and fugitives from across the world who have flocked to the city as famous for its criminal underworld as its iconic skyline. Your browser does not support iframes.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Yahoo
U.S. Marshals arrest 117 fugitives wanted for violent crimes in 9 Mass. cities
U.S. Marshals arrested 117 fugitives wanted for violent crimes in nine Massachusetts cities during a two-month, targeted operation this spring, the U.S. Marshals Service announced Monday. Over the course of 45 days between March 31 and May 30, the service's Fugitive Task Force arrested suspects accused of crimes such as homicide, sex offenses, felonious assault and felonious drug and gun possession as part of 'Operation Spring Cleaning,' the Marshals Service said in a press release. The operation was focused on apprehending fugitives in Brockton, Holyoke, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Springfield and Worcester, the Marshals Service said. These cities were selected based on a U.S. Department of Justice initiative that identified them as 'high crime areas.' One goal of Operation Spring Cleaning was to target suspects with ties to drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations, the Marshals Service said. One of the fugitives who was arrested was an MS-13 gang member who was wanted out of Worcester Superior Court on charges of murder and carrying a loaded firearm without a license. The fugitive was arrested on May 30 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, after evading authorities for nearly a year, the Marshals Service said. He was not identified by name in the press release. Murder suspect who fled the U.S. after 2022 Lawrence shooting faces charges Man pointed Airsoft gun at a woman in Duxbury Beach, made threats, police say Funeral arrangements announced for Roxbury man killed in shooting Southwick mother admits to abusing her child, sentenced to 18 months in jail Brookline Kosher grocery store window smashed with 'Free Palestine' brick Read the original article on MassLive.
CNN
02-06-2025
- General
- CNN
Two jailbreaks: Different circumstances, similar concerns as searches drag on
A police chief-turned-murderer-and-rapist, a repeat escapee and a double murderer are still nowhere to be found after two high-profile jailbreaks keep communities on edge and law enforcement on alert. As much as these stories have in common, the circumstances behind their escapes, where they may be hiding and what they might hope to do on the outside are very different. Grant Hardin, 56, escaped from a state prison in Calico Rock, a remote city in northern Arkansas, on May 25. Formerly the police chief of a nearby small town, Hardin was serving decades-long sentences for murder and rape. Derrick Groves, 27, and Antoine Massey, 32, are the last two fugitives on the run after they and eight other inmates broke out of the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans on May 16. Groves, 27, was convicted of murdering two men on Mardi Gras in 2018. Massey, 32, was charged with domestic abuse involving strangulation and theft of a motor vehicle. He started escaping custody at age 15. The eight other fugitives have been caught, mostly in New Orleans. But now, several states are involved in the manhunt for Massey and Groves. In both manhunts, hundreds of local, state and federal authorities joined in the search. And both manhunts now face the reality that the longer these men remain on the loose, the harder it may be to ever find them. Most inmates who escape get caught within 48 hours, and after 48 hours, it's more difficult to capture escapees, CNN Senior Law Enforcement Analyst Charles Ramsey told CNN. Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe agreed. 'The longer this goes, and the further away they can get, the better chance they have of staying out there for a while,' said McCabe, a CNN senior law enforcement analyst. Hardin escaped the North Central Unit prison in Calico Rock around 2:55 p.m. on May 25, the state's Department of Corrections said. A surveillance image from the time of the escape appears to show Hardin wearing black pants, a black T-shirt and a black baseball cap, as well as an additional item that looks like a bulletproof vest, which the department called 'a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement.' But the department made clear it was not standard-issue clothing for inmates or correctional officers, so they are also investigating how he got it. Authorities believe he exited through a sally port, a controlled and secure entry point found in places such as prisons, the Stone County Sheriff's Office said. Authorities discovered Hardin was missing during a routine count about 15 to 20 minutes after he left, but an investigation into the timeline of events is still being conducted, corrections spokesperson Rand Champion said. In Louisiana, 10 inmates used hair clippers, stolen blankets and bad infrastructure to ultimately escape a New Orleans jail by squeezing through a small hole cut into the wall behind a metal toilet. They left a message taunting corrections officers on the wall on the way out. 'To Easy LoL,' it read. Arkansas authorities say it was raining 'fairly significantly' at the time of Hardin's escape, giving him a small advantage against his pursuers despite his absence being detected no more than 20 minutes after he broke out, but the men in New Orleans got a much larger head start. Staff at the Orleans Justice Center did not notice the 10 inmates had escaped until more than 7 hours after the jailbreak, and did not alert the public until even later. Officials are still digging into how Hardin escaped, what methods he used and whether anyone helped him. By contrast, authorities in Louisiana say the 10 men who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center received help from at least 14 people – including friends, family members and a maintenance worker at the jail. Some of those suspected accomplices are now held on bonds of over $1 million and face felony charges, according to The Associated Press. Authorities believe Hardin is still in the general area near the prison, according to Champion but the fugitive's knowledge of the land and familiarity with law enforcement tactics are helping him stay out of custody. 'There's caves, there's barns, there's abandoned cars, there's abandoned sheds, there's residences … It's not a flat, open area,' Champion said, plus the area where police are searching is one of the most cave-dense in the state. Hardin grew up in midwest Arkansas, which has similar terrain, giving him another advantage, Champion added. 'I can imagine that the entrance area of a cave could be a useful place to hide,' Matt Covington, an associate professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arkansas, told CNN. 'There is often water present. There are boulders to hide under or small crawlways and side passages,' he added. Officials have been using all resources at their disposal, including dogs, drones and aircraft, among other methods, Champion said, but rain and fog have affected the effectiveness of those resources and with a background in law enforcement, authorities worry Hardin could remain a step ahead of them. 'Obviously, if you have a law enforcement background, you've had specialized training, you've had a familiarity of the tactics that are going to be used,' Champion said. Massey and Groves are less likely to have stuck around, and authorities believe they may not even be in Louisiana anymore. The eight other fugitives they escaped with were caught mostly in and around New Orleans but two of the most recent arrests were in Texas, so several states are now involved in the dragnet. 'We are currently at an impasse on figuring out where these two are,' Deputy US Marshal Brian Fair told CNN last week. 'They can be here locally or can be anywhere in the United States at this point.' The escapees have received help from friends and family who provided food, cash, transportation and places to rest and hide, according to court documents. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill had a stern warning for anyone considering helping the fugitives: 'If you help the remaining escaped inmates, you will be prosecuted,' she said. 'The more help they get, the more charges there will be. Period.' Groves was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder, charges carrying a life sentence, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said. Given Groves' potential jail time and Massey's long track record of escaping custody – previously escaping a New Orleans juvenile detention center and twice cutting off electronic ankle monitors, according to reports – it is likely the fugitives' main goal is avoiding going back to prison, though authorities have 'a lot of leads' and are getting tips from the community, according to Williams. 'They absolutely could be moving to other areas. I alerted my colleagues in the states surrounding Louisiana immediately after the jailbreak to be on alert and to notify their law enforcement partners that these individuals could be coming to their states,' Murrill said. Hardin's motives may be more complex, considering his close ties to the small town of Gateway, where he was briefly the chief of police, less than a three-hour drive from the prison where he escaped. 'To know that he is out on the loose is very scary,' Cheryl Tillman said. Hardin pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the death of Tillman's brother, James Appleton, in February 2017, according to court documents. Now Gateway's mayor, Tillman was on the city council when Hardin was dismissed from the police department. 'I'm sure the people here in Gateway are worried about him breaking out of prison after what he's done,' she said. The FBI announced a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to Hardin's arrest. 'What we would ask – in this area, especially – please be cognizant. Please be aware. Be alert of your surroundings,' Champion said. Officials announced $50,000 in reward money for anyone with information leading to the arrest of either Massey or Groves. The combined $100,000 offered comes from Crimestoppers Greater New Orleans, the FBI and other agencies. 'We need everyone's help,' Louisiana State Police Superintendent Col. Robert Hodges said. 'If you're listening, and you're in another state and you have a tip … please contact us.'
CNN
31-05-2025
- General
- CNN
A growing number of New Orleans fugitives' friends and family arrested for aiding in jail escape
The 10 men who escaped from a New Orleans jail more than two weeks ago by cutting out a hole behind a toilet received help from at least 14 people, many of them friends and family who provided food, cash, transport and shelter according to court documents. Records reviewed by The Associated Press show how some of the fugitives received aid before and after their escape — including from a number of people named in police reports but not yet facing charges. A former jail employee is accused of driving escapee Lenton Vanburen to a relative's home and helping him FaceTime family the day of the escape, while another friend later offered him a hiding place in a vacant apartment he had been hired to repaint. Others sent money via apps, lied to authorities during interrogation and messaged or called the fugitives, police say. Some are now held on bonds $1 million or higher and most face the felony charge of accessory after the fact. In a city with an entrenched mistrust of the criminal justice system, authorities on Thursday raised the reward to $50,000 per fugitive. They stressed that friends and family are key to capturing the two remaining escapees, convicted murderer Derrick Groves and Antoine Massey, who faces kidnapping and rape charges. 'We understand that some of you might be reporting a friend, a loved one, a relative and albeit not easy, it is critical to your safety and the safety of the public that you report them,' Jonathan Tapp, special agent in charge of FBI New Orleans, said Thursday. After the audacious escape in the early hours of May 16, a woman who police described as 'associated' with Groves 'picked up' and transported escapee Vanburen to a relative's residence, the documents show. She then video-called Vanburen's sisters, who came to meet him. This woman — who has not been charged with aiding in the escape — shares the same name as a former Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office employee, according to court records. In 2023, that employee was arrested for bringing a folding knife and a bag of Cheetos containing tobacco and marijuana into the jail. The charges were dropped in part due to the woman's lack of criminal history and she 'successfully completed' a pretrial diversion program, the Orleans Parish District Attorney's office told The Associated Press. The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office did not respond to request for comment. In a text message to an AP reporter, the woman denied bringing in contraband or aiding fugitives. Separately, authorities arrested a jail plumber they say helped the men escape, but his attorney maintains he was just trying to unclog a toilet. Several escapees, including Massey, relied on internet phone services to communicate with accomplices and 'avoid detection' by not leaving a trail of cellular signals, police reports say. Escapee Corey Boyd used an internet phone service to message several contacts seeking money and access to their iCloud accounts, threatening to kill one person if they did not comply, court records show. The FBI reviewed months of calls from Boyd's 'top caller' while incarcerated. They then found a brief call from a new phone number the night after the escape and used that to help track down Boyd. They discovered that Boyd's aunt was messaging him on Instagram to help him get food as hid in the apartment where a SWAT team captured him May 20. One of the women accused of helping Massey suffered from years of physical abuse from him, court records show. The woman, who had previously filed a protective order against Massey after he attempted to strangle her, was aware of his planned escape and later misled authorities, police say. She exchanged messages with Massey's 31-year-old sister saying they hoped he 'never gets caught.' Authorities staked out the New Orleans home of Massey's sister but a search six days after the escape turned up empty-handed. Police learned Massey had been inside the home before the raid and altered and deleted evidence on his sister's phone. Court records show police accuse Massey's sister of lying to them, slowing down the manhunt and forcing them to lose 'critical days and hours' in the search. At least seven of the people facing felony charges for aiding the fugitives have ties to Lenton Vanburen, Jr. according to authorities. After alerting two of his sisters by prison phone in the hours before his escape, he instructed they contact 'my girl' and provide her with a 'clean phone' so the two could communicate. The woman identified by police as Vanburen's love interest told The Associated Press she never received the phone and denied involvement in the escape plans. Vanburen's sisters met up with him the night of his escape at a family member's residence where he was able to shower, change clothes and was given toiletries. Another family member later reportedly took him to a relative's home in Mississippi. Vanburen was ultimately captured in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Monday and two men arrested this week were accused of helping him find shelter in a hotel — paid for in cash — and an apartment undergoing renovation. The Baton Rouge court system had no record of their legal representation. In another case, a 59-year-old Louisiana woman is accused of sending cash to fugitive Jermaine Donald, a family friend, according to her attorney. Lindsey Hortenstine, communications director for the Orleans Parish Public Defenders' office, said that most of the people arrested in connection with helping the fugitives have not yet secured attorneys. Louisiana State Police Superintendent Colonel Robert Hodges said tips from friends and family remain essential to locating the remaining fugitives. 'They're tired, they're looking over their shoulder, looking for resources,' Hodges said. 'I think the advantage goes to law enforcement and we need the public's help to ensure that we keep that advantage.'
