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Scranton, PA – U.S. Marshal Michael R.
Regan announced today that the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) arrested Gregory
Edward Wagner in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Wagner was being sought on an arrest warrant, dated January 8, 2009, and
signed by Magisterial District Judge Richard Claypool in Pocono Pines,
Pennsylvania.
During the late morning hours of December 30, 2008, the Pocono Mountain
Regional Police (PMRP) Department was notified that the Citizen’s Bank in
Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County had been robbed. Their investigation
revealed a middle-aged white male entered the bank inside Ahart’s
Supermarket in the Blakeslee Plaza shortly before 11:00AM. The suspect
sprayed lighter fluid on the bank counter, as well as the area near and
around the bank teller. The suspect had one hand in his pocket, and
allegedly threatened to ignite the fluid. The robber made demands to the
teller about filling a bag with money. The teller complied, and the suspect
fled the scene. As a result of PMRP’s investigation, an arrest warrant
issued against Wagner, charging him with:
- 3 counts of Robbery
- 1 count of Theft by Unlawful Taking
- 1 count of Receiving Stolen Property
- 1 count of Recklessly Endangering Another Person
In January 2009, investigators determined Wagner had been living in Drums,
Butler Township, and Luzerne County prior to the bank robbery. Shortly after
the bank robbery, Wagner fled from the Drums area. His whereabouts have been
unknown to date.
On February 24, 2010, the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department
requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service to locate and
apprehend Wagner. This fugitive case was adopted by the U.S. Marshals
Service Fugitive Task Force in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
U.S. Marshals based in Scranton, working together with the Pocono Mountain
Regional Police Department, conducted interviews and reviewed all existing
information. Leads were developed on Wagner’s possible whereabouts outside
of Pennsylvania.
In early March, an investigative lead was sent to U.S. Marshals in Florence,
South Carolina. This led to the focus of the fugitive investigation then
changing to the greater Charlotte area of North Carolina. U.S. Marshals
determined Wagner and a female companion had been living at an Extended Stay
America hotel in Charlotte since March 2009. U.S. Marshals also determined
Wagner and the female had recently moved into a house in the 11000 block of
April Day Lane in Charlotte.
On March 19 at approximately 12:00PM, U.S. Marshals from Charlotte arrested
Wagner in the drive-thru of a McDonald’s Restaurant on Pineville-Matthews
Road in Charlotte. Wagner was the driver of an SUV occupied by four other
individuals. This included his female companion, the female’s daughter, and
two infant children in car seats.
Wagner did not resist arrest. When taken into custody by U.S. Marshals, the
fugitive identified himself as Greg Wagner.
Wagner, 54 years of age, was turned over to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police
Department for processing as a fugitive from justice. He was committed to
the Mecklenburg County Prison, pending a court appearance and any further
hearings relating to his extradition to Monroe County, Pennsylvania.
U.S. Marshals, assisted by the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department,
were diligent in their search for Wagner. The concept of all USMS-led
fugitive task forces is to seek out and arrest the nation’s most dangerous
and violent offenders.
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at
http://www.usmarshals.gov. |
