Sunday, July 11, 2010

U.S. Fugitive "Barefoot Bandit" Arrested By Bahamas Police

Colton A. Harris-Moore, 19, aka, "Barefoot Bandit"

Photo: FBI

Moore facing extradition to U.S. for additional crimes

By H. Nelson Goodson
July 11, 2010

Eleuthera Island, Bahamas - On Sunday, Royal Bahamas Police Spokeswoman Sgt. Chrislyn Skippings confirmed, they have captured Colton A. Harris-Moore, 19, aka, "Barefoot Bandit" wanted in the U.S. for escaping from a low security juvenile Renton Washington group home in April of 2008. Moore had a $10,000 reward offered by the FBI for information leading to his arrest and was considered armed and dangerous. He was serving a three year sentence for trasspassing while inside a vacant home in 2007. He was first convicted at age 12, after Moore was caught with stolen property and a year later at the age of 13, he was convicted of several other crimes.
Moore was labeled the Barefoot Bandit after leaving chalk marks of bare feet inside a convienent grocery store where he broke in to steal items.
Bahamas police haven't confirmed, if Moore will face charges in the Bahamas for breaking into a bar to watch television and for attempting to steal several boats. Moore was arrested by authorities while trying to dock a boat after a short chase at Harbour Island at dawn.
Moore was flown to Nassau, the capital for further court proceedings next week and is facing extradition to the U.S. where other charges have been filed against Moore.
Moore allegedly stole vehicles, boats, and at least five planes. He flew a plane from the U.S. state Indiana to the Island's off the Florida coast, with no flight training, according to authorities.
A Facebook page of the Barefoot Bandit has attracted thousands of followers intrigued with Moore's abililty to evade police. As a fugitive, he stole to survive, until today's capture that ended his outlaw adventure, which attributed to songs depicting his plight.  
Late Sunday, the Seattle Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in a press release says, Moore of Camano Island, Washington, was apprehended at approximately 3:30 a.m. after a brief boat-chase in Harbour Island in the Bahamas. Moore is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the United States District Court, Western District of Washington, for the interstate transportation of a stolen aircraft, is also wanted by the Island County Washington; San Juan County, Washington; and Monroe County, and Nebraska authorities.
Assistant Special Agent in Charge Steven Dean of the Seattle Federal Bureau Investigation said, "It was great police work by the Royal Bahamas Police Force and timely and crucial sharing of information by the police departments in Washington, Idaho, Nebraska, and Indiana that led to Moore's apprehension."
The FBI wanted poster says, Moore has been charged with interstate transportation of a stolen aircraft, and a federal warrant was issued for his arrest on December 11, 2009, in the United States District Court, Western District of Washington, Seattle Washington. This stemmed from the theft of an airplane from Bonners Ferry, Idaho, on September 29, 2009. The plane crash-landed after running out of fuel 260 miles away near Snohomish, Washington.
Moore is wanted locally for escaping from a Renton, Washington, group home in April of 2008. He had been ordered to stay there after pleading guilty to three felony charges in Island County, Washington, and being sentenced to three years of confinement. As a result of this escape, on March 12, 2009, a felony warrant was issued for Moore's arrest on October 2, 2009.

Moore's FBI wanted poster: http://bit.ly/asd2hq

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