For Immediate Release

Tallahassee, FL – The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force (FRFTF) today announced the arrest of Anthony M. Bell Jr., 19 years of age, from Riviera Beach, FL for First Degree Murder with a Firearm and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Bell was currently being sought by authorities in Riviera Beach, FL after investigators determined that Bell walked up to the 24 year old male victim and shot him multiple times at close range. Bell then fled Riviera Beach and travelled to Tallahassee, FL in an attempt to evade authorities. On 09/11/2012 U.S. Marshals in South Florida contacted the FRFTF and supplied information of a possible associate that Bell was staying with in Tallahassee. On 09/12/2012 members of the U.S. Marshals FRFTF established surveillance on Bell’s location and at approximately 4:00PM observed Bell leaving the residence. FRFTF members along with marked Leon County Sheriff’s Office Deputies converged on Bell as he stood at the intersection of Nekoma Lane and Blountstown Street. Bell was arrested without incident and is currently being held in the Leon County Jail awaiting his removal back to Riviera Beach.

The Tallahassee Division of the FRFTF is comprised of state and local law enforcement officers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Leon County State Attorney’s Office, Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Perry Police Department, Tallahassee Police Department, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office. U.S. Marshal Ed Spooner stated that the arrest of Anthony Bell showcased the ability of federal, state and local law enforcement officers who currently work under the authority of the US Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force to quickly locate and safely apprehend violent fugitives who are on the run and hiding out in the North Florida area.

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

####

America’s Oldest Federal Law Enforcement Agency