For Immediate Release

Cleveland, OH – Wanted fugitive Omar Williams, age 29, was arrested early this morning at approximately 7:30 am in Parma Heights, Ohio. Williams was wanted on charges of homicide stemming from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. On April 4, 2008, Williams is alleged to have shot and killed Anthony Flagler at close range in front of numerous eye witnesses and then calmly walked away. The shooting was part of a drug related incident. The U.S. Marshals in Orlando adopted the case and based upon their investigation, were able to determine that Williams fled the state of Florida and went to the Rochester, New York area to hide with family members. Prior to the shooting in Florida, Williams was convicted on two counts of attempted murder in a separate drug related matter in Rochester and received a jail sentence of six years. Following his release from prison Williams was placed on state parole for a period of five years which was eventually transferred to the state of Florida when Williams relocated there. Williams violated his parole by being involved in the shooting in Florida and then absconded and fled once again back to Rochester.

In October of 2009, the U.S. Marshals New York / New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force contacted the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force and solicited its assistance in the search for Williams. Deputy Marshals and Task Force officers began their search for Williams over the course of the next few weeks but were unsuccessful in locating him. It was believed that Williams was actively commuting between New York and Ohio on a regular basis making it difficult to put Williams in a specific place.

Williams was profiled as the Fugitive of the Week on Channel 3 News and in Cleveland’s Plain Dealer newspaper in November of 2009. Earlier this year during the course of the summer, the Task Force started to received anonymous tips from several sources stating that Williams was once again back in the Cleveland area. The Task Force reopened its investigation for Williams but none of the new information that was obtained led to an arrest. The Task Force once again featured Williams as the Fugitive of the Week this past week with updated information that Williams was believed to be in the Parma Heights area. An alert dispatcher of the Parma Heights Police Department noticed the article of Williams online and immediately alerted a supervisor who in turn contacted the Task Force. Deputy Marshals from the Task Force coordinated information with the Parma Heights Police Department regarding Williams in the event that he was seen locally.

At approximately 7:30 am this morning, officers from the Parma Heights Police Department went to an apartment building located on the 11000 block of Huffman Avenue in Parma Heights to speak with an associate of Williams. Upon arriving at the location and speaking with this individual it became clear that Williams was hiding within the apartment. A perimeter was set up around the building as the officers attempted to make entry in the apartment. Williams self-surrendered to the officers a short time later without incident. The Task Force was notified and Williams is currently awaiting extradition back to Florida to face his pending criminal allegations.

Parma Heights Police Chief Daniel Teel stated, “It is with great pleasure that we were able to assist the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force in the apprehension of Omar Williams. I am extremely proud of the diligence and concerted effort of all the officers, dispatchers, deputy marshals, and task force officers that assisted in bringing this dangerous fugitive to justice. The sharing of information and teamwork between multiple organizations is a powerful force that can eventually thwart any and all acts of injustice. I am thrilled that our agency was a part of it.”

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 – Cleveland Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies: U.S. Marshals Service, Bratenahl Police Department, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Chagrin Falls Police Department, Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Euclid Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Linndale Village Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Westlake Police Department, Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service and the U.S. Secret Service.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.