Thursday, April 08, 2010

U.S. Marshals Arrest "Most Wanted" Fugitive

April 8, 2010 - San Juan, Puerto Rico – Eric Timberman, the United States Marshal for the District of Puerto Rico, would like to announce that Edgardo Seda-Arroyo, aka “Rambo”, a member of both the Puerto Rico Police Department and U.S. Marshals led Puerto Rico Fugitive Task Force’s Most Wanted List, was arrested by the United States Marshals today.

Seda-Arroyo was wanted by the Puerto Rico Police Department for murder, attempted murder of a police officer and weapons charges stemming from an incident in Puerto Nuevo in 2007. In addition, Seda-Arroyo had a federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution from the U.S. Marshals Service. Seda-Arroyo is believed to be an enforcer from several drug organizations and is a suspect in several other homicides.

The U.S. Marshals led PRFTF was able to develop information that Seda-Arroyo was staying at a residence in Barriada Jurutungo in Puerto Rico. As officers approached the location, they encountered Seda-Arroyo, who then retreated into the residence. Several rounds were fired towards officers at the scene by Seda-Arroyo and the house was set on fire from inside. Seda-Arroyo then emerged from the residence and was placed in custody after a brief struggle with members of the task force. Emergency personnel responded to the scene and were able to extinguish the fire. Weapons and ammunition have been recovered from the residence and Seda-Arroyo faces possible additional federal charges relating to his actions and the recovered weapons. Seda-Arroyo is scheduled for his initial appearance and arraignment on his federal charges today.

“Situations like this demonstrate the effectiveness of the US Marshals led Puerto Rico Fugitive Task Force. This violent fugitive, who had no intention of surrendering peacefully, was arrested by the PRFTF without any injury or loss of life. The U.S. Marshals Service here in Puerto Rico will continue to work with our local law enforcement partners to ensure dangerous fugitives like Seda-Arroyo are brought to justice,” stated Eric Timberman, United States Marshal for the District of Puerto Rico.

The US Marshals led Puerto Rico Fugitive Task Force is the fugitive arm of the U.S. Marshals in Puerto Rico. In the last calendar year alone, the PRFTF arrested more than 1,250 violent fugitives.

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