U.S. Marshals Task Force Ends Female Bank Robber's Crime Spree

Cleveland, Ohio – Wanted fugitive Lateeshia Scott, age 31, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at approximately 7:15 pm yesterday at an apartment building on the 2200 block of

E. 83rd Street

in Cleveland. Scott was wanted by the Cleveland Police Department for a bank robbery which occurred on September 4, 2010 at the U.S. Bank at

1958 W. 25th Street

in Cleveland. During the robbery, Scott slipped the teller a note stating she had a firearm and demanded the money. Scott is also a suspect on several other bank robberies in the Cleveland area with the most recent occurring earlier this week.

The fugitive investigation was referred to the Task Force who immediately began searching the city for Scott. Scott was profiled in the local media to include being added as a “Fugitive of the Week” and was also added to the Task Force’s most wanted “Dangerous Dozen” list. Although several tips came in, none were able to identify Scott’s location. The Task Force worked jointly with the Cleveland Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in an effort to locate Scott quickly before she targeted another bank.

During the investigation, the Task Force identified the residence on

E.83rd Street

as a location that Scott could be hiding. After conducting surveillance, the Task Force was able to confirm that Scott was in the building. During the search of the building, the Task Force was able to locate Scott hiding behind a washer and dryer in the common laundry area of the building. Scott was transported to the Cleveland City Jail to be questioned by Cleveland Police Detectives and the FBI regarding the bank robberies.

Cleveland Police Deputy Chief Ed Tomba stated, “Our partnerships with all the law enforcement agencies benefit both the Cleveland Division of Police and the citizens of the city. This arrest was a great accomplishment and could potentially clear up other crimes in the city.”

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of a known fugitive is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at: 1-866-4-WANTED. Callers may remain anonymous. The Task Force’s “Dangerous Dozen” fugitives can be viewed at http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/fugitives/pdf/dangerous_dozen.pdf, which is updated monthly.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Cleveland Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies: Bratenahl Police Department, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Chagrin Falls Police Department, Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, Euclid Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Linndale Village Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service and the Westlake Police Department.