Fugitive of the Week Arrested in Manchester

Concord, NH – Last evening, “Fugitive of the Week,” Ryan Souza was arrested in Manchester, NH. Souza was being sought on several arrest warrants, including a Strafford County warrant for failure to appear on two counts of theft by unauthorized taking; a Hillsborough County warrant for failure to appear on a possession of cocaine charge; a parole violation on an original charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and three additional charges of sales of a controlled drug issued by the Manchester Police Department. Souza was last known to live in Manchester, but it was recently determined that he had been residing in Dover, NH.

As part of the U.S. Marshals fugitive investigation, Souza was featured as the “Fugitive of the Week” on February 19th. The “Fugitive of the Week” is broadcast on WTPL-FM, WMUR-TV, The Union Leader, The Nashua Telegraph, The Patch, Foster’s Daily Democrat and is prominently featured on the internet. The “Fugitive of the Week” continues to be very successful tool that has resulted in the location and arrest of numerous fugitives since its implementation in 2007.

Members of the NH Joint Fugitive Task Force from the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office and the Manchester Police Department had both spent many hours trying to track down Souza. Last evening these efforts paid off when information was developed that Souza was back in Manchester, NH. Members of the Manchester Police Department were able to locate Souza in a car in Manchester. This vehicle made a stop at a local business on Eddy Road, where officers were able to arrest Souza without incident. During a search of Souza, additional narcotics were located on his person, which will result in an additional criminal charge.

Souza was transported to the Manchester Police Department for processing on his outstanding arrest warrants and the new charge of possession of a controlled drug. Souza will be held overnight at the Hillsborough County Jail, pending his initial court appearance later today.

U.S. Marshal, David Cargill, Jr. said, “I am very pleased with the continuing success of the Fugitive of the Week program, this program has resulted in nearly 300 arrests of dangerous fugitives due to the great partnerships established between the public and law enforcement.” Cargill continued, “These efforts by both the public and our law enforcement partners should be commended.”

Since the inception of the New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force in 2002, these partnerships have resulted in over 5,869 arrests (Updated as of 12/4/2014). These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, 7 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.