Mountain State Fugitive Task Force Arrests Violent Fugitive from Baltimore at Area Motel

Martinsburg, WV - On January 28, 2016, the Mountain State Fugitive Task Force located and arrested fugitive Dennis Knapp, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland. Knapp was wanted for violating his probation in Maryland stemming from an armed robbery case. Tiffani Sutphin, 33, of Baltimore, MD, was also arrested on drug charges.

The U.S. Marshals Service’s fugitive task force in West Virginia received a lead on Dennis Knapp from the Capital Area Fugitive Task Force, another task force in the Baltimore, Maryland area. Officers believed Dennis Knapp was staying with a female at the Heritage Inn located on Winchester Ave in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Detectives from Baltimore shared Dennis Knapp had recently been involved in a shooting November of 2015 where he shot into the vehicle of a female whom he was involved in a domestic assault with. After being arrested on the assault with a firearm charge where the gun was recovered, Knapp was released on bond before a warrant could be issued for violating his probation on an armed robbery charge.

Members of the Mountain State Fugitive Task Force comprised of the United States Marshals Service, West Virginia State Police and Shepherdstown Police Department set up surveillance at the Heritage Inn located on Winchester Ave, Martinsburg, West Virginia. Officers observed Dennis Knapp and a female, identified as Tiffani Sutphin exit a room and enter a vehicle with Maryland registration. Officers quickly responded to the Inn and arrested Knapp without incident in the parking lot. Further investigation resulted in officers seizing thirty one (31) caps of heroin and other drugs.

Dennis Knapp and Tiffani Sutphin, were also charged for the drugs seized by the West Virginia State Police. Both subjects were booked into the Eastern Regional Jail to await hearings before a Berkeley County Magistrate.

The primary mission of the U.S. Marshals led task forces is to locate and capture fugitives charged with violent crimes, drug crimes, sex offenders and other violent felony offenses.