U.S. Marshals Arrest Rufus Phelps

Albuquerque, NM – Thursday, March 24, 2014, Deputy United States Marshals, Albuquerque Police Detectives, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputies, Torrance County Sheriff’s Detectives, and New Mexico Department of Corrections STIU (Security Threat Intelligence Unit) Investigators, arrested Rufus Phelps. Phelps was wanted on a bench warrant issued for his arrest. A grand jury indicted Phelps on September 12, 2013, charging him with Aggravated Assault Against a Household Member (Deadly Weapon), Aggravated Assault (Deadly Weapon), Possession of a Firearm or Destructive Device by a Felon, Possession of Controlled Substance (Felony-Narcotic Drug), Use or Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Negligent Use of a Deadly Weapon (Discharge).

On April 18, 2014, Deputy Marshals attempted to arrest Phelps at Tingley and Central SE. Phelps allegedly assaulted a Deputy United States Marshal in the parking lot for Albuquerque’s Open Space area.

This afternoon, the United States Marshals Service’s South West Investigative Fugitive Team (SWIFT) task force developed leads that Rufus Phelps was parked near Saggios Pizza at Central SE and Cornell SE. Phelps was in a car waiting for his order of pizza. Deputies identified that Phelps was in the vehicle and moved in for the arrest. Phelps was taken into custody without incident.

The United States Marshals Service thanks the citizens of Albuquerque for their assistance and cooperation in locating Phelps. During the last 6 days, several community tips came into the Marshals Service providing information on sightings of Phelps. The leads that came into the Marshals Service led to Phelps’s arrest. Deputy Marshals were able to determine that Phelps was surviving by selling auto parts in Southeast Albuquerque, as well as having friends assist him in eluding law enforcement officers. None of Phelps’ associates were arrested at this time.