U.S. Marshals Arrest Charleston Murder Suspect

Rafael Horlbeck was apprehended this morning by members of the Marshals’ Operation Intercept fugitive task force. Horlbeck, 19, was the subject of a North Charleston warrant for Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor and a Charleston warrant for a homicide that occurred on Hanover Street in October. Horlbeck was located in a hotel room on Rivers Avenue just after 9:00 AM and taken into custody without incident. Deputy marshals, the Charleston Police Department and the Mount Pleasant Police Department all participated in the arrest. In announcing the arrest, United States Marshal Johnny Mack Brown said, “We originally started working this case for Operation Falcon III but were unable to locate Horlbeck until this morning. The allegations against him, both in Charleston and North Charleston, are very serious. We are very pleased to have taken him into custody without incident.”

Established in 1789, the United States Marshals Service is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency. In fiscal 2005, the Marshals arrested more than 35,500 federal fugitives, clearing 38,500 felony warrants. Marshals Service-led task forces like South Carolina’s Operation Intercept arrested 44,000 state and local fugitives, clearing 51,200 state and local felony warrants. Locally, Operation Intercept arrested over 2,900 South Carolina fugitives during that same period. More information about the Marshals and other South Carolina fugitives can be found on the web at www.usmarshals.gov.