For Immediate Release

Mansfield, OH – Earlier today, the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) arrested wanted fugitive Demetrius Briggs. Briggs, age 20, was wanted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office and the Mansfield Police Department on numerous arrest warrants including attempted murder, aggravated robbery, felonious assault, aggravated burglary and domestic violence. It is alleged that on July 12, 2009, Demetrius Briggs and his brother, Brent Briggs, held up the Goose drive thru in Mansfield. During the robbery the duo exchanged words with the teller and subsequently shot the teller before escaping. The alleged robbery/shooting was caught on the store’s security cameras and the two were immediately identified. Brent was arrested on July 22, 2009 but his brother Demetrious managed to elude capture.

The NOVFTF immediately made this case a priority and investigators followed numerous leads from Mansfield to Cleveland to Columbus. Through the course of the investigation, Task Forces Officers encountered Briggs on at least two occasions and during each occasion, Briggs managed to flee on foot and evade arrest.

Task Force Officers recently received information that Briggs was back in Mansfield staying with a family members. Officers set up surveillance and summoned additional manpower from partner agencies. The NOVFTF was adequately prepared to cover all corners of the building in case the fugitive decided to flee again. Officers made contact at an apartment within Chelsea Square Apartments. After entering the apartment, Task Force members located Briggs in a back bedroom and arrested him without incident.

Task Force Officer Luke Mayer from the Ohio Adult Parole Authority stated, “This case truly came together because of teamwork. It was almost like a jigsaw puzzle with each Task Force Officer putting in a piece to make the puzzle complete.”

Mansfield Police Chief Phil Messer stated that, “The Task Force did exactly what it was created to on this case. Each officer involved worked together with the common goal of making our community safe.”

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of a known fugitive is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at: 1-866-4-WANTED. Callers may remain anonymous.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force Richland County Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies: Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Bellville Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, Galion Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Mansfield Municipal Probation, Mansfield Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ontario Police Department, Plymouth Police Department, Richland County Probation, Richland County Prosecutor’s Office, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.

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