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 Savannah,
GA - A man wanted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for numerous felony
offenses was captured by the United States Marshals Service Southeast Regional
Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF), the Chatham County Sheriff’s Department and the
Tybee Island Police Department at a hotel on Tybee Island, Georgia on October
17, 2011.
Christopher Ghrist, 22, was wanted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for
several felony drug and firearm charges. After his arrest by the Pennsylvania
State Police, he escaped from their custody and began his flight south to the
Coastal Empire. This case was referred to the United States Marshals Service (USMS)
Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force by the USMS Western Pennsylvania Fugitive
Task Force. An intensive investigation was conducted by the Southeast Regional
Fugitive Task Force which indicated to investigators that Ghrist had travelled
to Tybee Island. The investigation led SERFTF to the Rodeway Inn on Butler
Avenue on Tybee Island. On October 17, 2011, Southeast Regional Fugitive Task
Force members augmented by Chatham County Sheriff’s Office deputies converged on
the address and arrested Jackson without incident. A stolen loaded
semi-automatic 9mm pistol was also recovered from the hotel room. Jackson was
taken to the Tybee Island Police Department to await local proceedings and
possible additional charges. Ghrist is awaiting extradition proceedings for his
return to Pennsylvania.
Annually, investigations carried out by the U.S. Marshals result in the
apprehension of approximately 36, 000 federal fugitives. More federal fugitives
are arrested by the Marshals Service than all other federal agencies combined.
The Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force has three offices: Atlanta,
Macon, and Savannah. The task force covers the whole state of Georgia. The
Savannah Office of the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force is a team
comprised of investigators from the Georgia Department of Corrections, the
Chatham County Sheriff’s Department, the Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police
Department and the United States Marshals Service. The task force objective is
to seek out and arrest fugitives charged with violent crimes, drug crimes, sex
offenders, and other felonies. In 2008, U.S. Marshals led task forces arrested
more than 73,000 state and local fugitives on felony charges.
Additional information about the U.S.
Marshals Service can be found at
http://www.usmarshals.gov.
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