For Immediate Release

Cleveland, OH – Early this morning, the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from the Mentor Police Department, was able to locate and arrest fugitive Ronnie Haskins, age 31, during a vehicle stop on State Route 2 in Mentor, Ohio. Haskins was wanted by the Euclid Police Department for a robbery that occurred on April 19, 2011 at a convenience store on Babbitt Road in Euclid in which he was alleged to viciously beat the store clerk during the robbery. Haskins also had a misdemeanor traffic warrant out of East Cleveland. Haskins has a violent criminal history and was added to the Task Force’s “Dangerous Dozen” in May. Haskins was also profiled as a Fugitive of the Week this week on local television, radio and newspaper.

The Task Force received several tips on the case from the media publicity. Due to the tips, the Task Force was able to determine that Haskins was hiding in the Mentor area. This morning, the Task Force set up surveillance and was able to identify Haskins enter a vehicle. With assistance from the Mentor Police Department, the team coordinated a traffic stop on the vehicle and apprehended Haskins without incident. Haskins was transported to the Euclid Police Department.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “This was a fine collaboration of media assistance, tips from the public and great investigative work. When these three factors come together, our ability to locate and safely apprehend these dangerous fugitives is greatly enhanced.”

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 Task Force’s “Dangerous Dozen” fugitives can be viewed at http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/fugitives/pdf/dangerous_dozen.pdf, which is updated monthly.

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.

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