Source: US Marshals Service
Cleveland, OH – Late this afternoon, members of the U.S. Marshals led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) along with the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s (OSHP) Aviation Unit and Special Response Team arrested Gianni Gray Jr. 26.
Gray Jr. was wanted by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department for a 26-count indictment, with charges that include trafficking offenses, drug possession, having weapons while under disability, possession of criminal tools, and receiving stolen property. Many of the charges have firearms specifications attached to them as well. Gray has been on the run from these charges for a year.
Two months ago, members of the NOVFTF began looking for Gray Jr. and his codefendant, Jamal Taylor. Taylor was arrested by the NOVFTF on April 18 after a short foot pursuit on Cleveland’s westside. Gray Jr. was recently featured as Crimestoppers most wanted last month.
Early this morning, members of the NOVFTF and the OSHP Aviation Unit and SRT began searching for Gray Jr. on the eastside of Cleveland. Officers were able to locate Gray Jr. in the parking lot of a business in the 9200 block of Miles Ave. After a short foot pursuit, Gray Jr. was taken into custody. A handgun was seized from Gray Jr., along with an unknown amount of drugs. The task force will work with local and federal partners to determine if further charges are warranted.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “This suspect is a menace to our communities with the laundry list of charges against him. His violent felonies, possession of drugs and a gun at his arrest today show he has no intention of stopping his criminal activity. Cleveland and the surrounding communities are safer with this suspect behind bars.”
Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous. Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland.
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Cleveland Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies: U.S. Marshals Service, Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Euclid Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Independence Police Department, Parma Police Department, Aurora Police Department, Solon Police Department, Cleveland RTA Police Department, Westlake Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Middleburg Heights Police Department, Newburgh Heights Police Department and the Metrohealth Police Department.