|
|
|
|
|
|
For Immediate Release |
Contact: |
| March 17, 2010 | DUSM Todd Kozuszko, District of New Mexico (505) 681-7894 |
| Marshals Arrest Los Angeles Homicide Suspect |
|
Albuquerque, New Mexico –
On 03/16//2010, members of the U. S. Marshals Service SWIFT (Southwest
Investigative Fugitive Team) task force arrested homicide suspect Joel Martin in
Portales, New Mexico. On March 5, 2010, a warrant was issued by the Superior
Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles charging Martin
with Murder. On February 4, 2010, Martin allegedly shot Carlos Espinoza
multiple times at a bus stop in Pomona, California. Following the homicide, it
was believed that Martin fled Los Angeles County to the Country of Mexico.
Members of the United States Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task
Force (PSWRFTF) developed leads which actually placed Martin in New Mexico. A
request was sent to the U.S. Marshals Service in Albuquerque indicating that
Martin was believed to be hiding in Portales. Members of the SWIFT task force
located Martin in Portales where he was arrested without incident and booked
into the Roosevelt County Detention Center. U.S. Marshal Gorden Eden said,
“This is another example of law enforcement agencies working together in the
apprehension of fugitives to ensure the safety of the citizens of New Mexico.”
Annually, investigations carried out by the U.S. Marshals result in the apprehension of approximately 34,000 federal fugitives. More federal fugitives are arrested by the United States Marshals than all other federal agencies combined. The Southwest Investigative Fugitive Team is a team comprised of law enforcement officers from the following: New Mexico State Police; New Mexico Department of Corrections; Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office; Las Cruces Police Department; Albuquerque Police Department; Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office; Rio Rancho Police Department; Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office; Santa Fe Police Department; and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. The task force objective is to seek out and arrest all Violent Offenders. Last year, USMS sponsored fugitive task forces arrested more than 27,000 state and local fugitives on felony charges. For more information about the U.S. Marshals Service, visit http://www.usmarshals.gov. |