U.S. MARSHAL’S SERVICE NEWS

The Roswell Police Department, the Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force, and the U. S. Marshals Service District of New Mexico collaborated to develop leads that ultimately led to the arrest of Austin Medford, 23, near Fresno, Calif. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol assisted the USMS, District of Eastern California Fresno Office in the apprehension January 6 of Medford near Fresno.

On November 17, 2020, Medford was arrested during Operation Washout in Roswell on a State of California arrest warrant charging him with kidnapping/carjacking. On November 18, 2020, he escaped from custody and a New Mexico arrest warrant was issued charging him with escape. On November 24, 2020, investigators developed information indicating Medford may have fled to California. This arrest was the result of investigative efforts by the Roswell Police Department, the Chaves County Metro Narcotic Task Force, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, and the USMS-District of New Mexico/District of Eastern California.

In fiscal year 2019, the USMS nationwide arrested 90,239 fugitives, of which 60,441 were state and local fugitives arrested in partnership with numerous state, county, city and municipal partner-agencies.