For Immediate Release

Cleveland, OH – This morning at approximately 9:30am, members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) and the Cleveland Police Department arrested Miguel Gonzalez-Perez, age 27, after receiving information Gonzalez-Perez was in the Cleveland area. Gonzalez-Perez was wanted by the Municipality of Bayamon in San Juan, Puerto Rico for murder. It is alleged that on November 13th, 2010, Gonzalez-Perez shot and killed Franscisco Molina-Soto after a heated argument. Late in July, San Juan Police requested assistance from the US Marshals led Puerto Rico Violent Offender Task Force (PRVOTF) in locating and apprehending Gonzalez-Perez. PRVOTF members established information that Gonzalez-Perez fled Puerto Rico and began hiding out in Cleveland, OH and contacted the NOVFTF to locate Gonzalez-Perez.

Members of the U. S. Marshals Task Force in Cleveland received information that Gonzalez-Perez was working at a residence on E. 125th St. around the St. Clair Ave. area. Task force members set up around the area and saw a man that fit the description of Gonzalez-Perez. Officers moved in on Gonzalez-Perez’s suspected location and arrested him without incident. Gonzalez-Perez was transported to the Cuyahoga County Jail where he will wait extradition back to Puerto Rico.

United States Marshal Pete Elliott said, “I commend all the law enforcement agencies that worked together during this fugitive investigation. Mr. Gonzalez-Perez may have thought Cleveland was far enough from Puerto Rico to hide from the law but he was wrong and he will be heading back to face these serious charges.”

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: 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, Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, Euclid Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Linndale Village Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service and the Westlake Police Department.

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

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