Source: US Marshals Service
New York, NY – The U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force (NY/NJ RFTF), assisted by the USMS Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF), on Tuesday apprehended a suspect wanted in the violent attack of an off-duty New York Police Department (NYPD) officer.
Taveon Hargrove was identified in surveillance footage as one of two masked men armed with a knife attacking an off-duty police officer May 24. They can be seen knocking the officer to the ground, striking him in the face and holding a knife to his throat before making off with the officer’s belongings, including his service weapon.
Investigators learned that shortly after the brutal assault and armed robbery of the off-duty NYPD officer, Hargrove fled the New York area and was possibly staying with a family friend. Once the case was adopted by the NY/NJ RFTF, Deputy U.S. Marshals, along with Task Force Officers from the NYPD, developed information that Hargrove was in North Chesterfield, Virginia.
The NY/NJ RFTF immediately requested assistance from the CARFTF, and Tuesday they, along with members of the NY/NJ RFT, located and arrested Hargrove.
“Today, members of the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Taskforce, the Capital Area RFTF, and NYPD arrested the suspect wanted in connection with the brutal assault of a police officer,” said Jhovanny Gomez, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of New York. “This arrest sends a clear message: assaults on law enforcement officers will not be tolerated and will be met with swift and decisive action.”
U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of New York Vincent DeMarco added, “The assault of an off-duty NYPD officer was particularly brutal. I am proud of the work done by the U.S. Marshals Service and the NYPD to track down and arrest one of the suspects today. Violence against those who serve and protect will never be tolerated. Justice will be pursued to the fullest extent.”
The NY/NJ RFTF began operations in April 2002 and was the first regional fugitive task force to become fully operational following the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000. The NY/NJ RFTF was the flagship that has allowed seven other regional fugitive task forces to be created across the country. With partnership agreements with over 90 federal, state, or local agencies and 13 fully operational offices, the NY/NJ RFTF has successfully apprehended over 95,000 fugitives since inception.