U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Arrests Shooting Suspect

Scranton, PA – Today, U.S. Marshal Martin Pane announced the arrest of Darnell Stokes, a 42-year-old man, wanted for aggravated assault and firearm-related offenses in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

On January 21, deputy U.S. marshals and task force officers from the Middle District of Pennsylvania arrested Stokes without incident in the 800 block of Basswood Court West in Lords Valley, PA. Stokes was turned over to local authorities pending judicial proceedings.

It is alleged that on September 27, 2014 Stokes shot at his victim. On January 6, an arrest warrant was issued in Luzerne County by Magisterial District Judge Michael Dotzel, charging Stokes with aggravated assault, possession of a prohibited firearm, recklessly endangering another person, and discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure.

The USMS worked jointly in this investigation with personnel from the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Scranton Police Department, the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and Hemlock Farms Public Safety.

United States Marshal Martin J. Pane stated, “The top priority of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force is to arrest violent offenders, especially those who use guns against our citizens. This arrest takes a dangerous suspect off the streets, and provides the victim with some measure of justice.”