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Scranton, PA – United States Marshal
Martin J. Pane announced today that the United States Marshals Service (USMS)
arrested 32-year old John Cheek in Virginia.
On February 3, it is alleged that a man, later identified as John Cheek,
attempted to lure a young child into his vehicle in Pittston. It is alleged
Cheek yelled to the child to get into the vehicle. The child ignored Cheek.
Cheek then got out of the vehicle and yelled at the child again. At this
time, the child ran away while Cheek drove off. Local Police were called to
the scene.
An arrest warrant was issued by Magisterial District Judge Andrew Barilla
Jr. for John Cheek on February 4. Cheek’s is charged with the following
offenses:
- Luring a child into a motor vehicle
- Harassment – communication lewd and
threatening
- Harassment – follow in or about public
place
The Middle District of Pennsylvania Fugitive
Task Force began assisting the Pittston Police Department in their
investigation to locate Cheek. Information was developed that Cheek may have
fled to Virginia. Marshals in Scranton contacted the Norfolk office of the
Capital Area Regional Task Force in Virginia for their assistance in
apprehending Cheek.
During the morning hours of February 8th, U.S. Marshals based in Norfolk
located and arrested Cheek without incident in the 1000 block of Mercury
Blvd in Hampton, VA. Cheek was turned over to the Hampton City Police
Department for processing. Cheek will be charges as a fugitive-from-justice
pending further proceeding to extradite him back to Pennsylvania.
United States Marshal Martin J. Pane stated, “I cannot think of a bigger
responsibility then the safety and protection of our nation’s children.
While this man’s attempt to potentially harm a young child thankfully was
not successful, the coordination, investigation, and eventual arrest were a
success”.
U.S. Marshals were assisted in this investigation by personnel from the
Newport News Police Department and the Hampton City Police Department.
Additional
information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at
http://www.usmarshals.gov.
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