U.S. Marshals Arrest Two New Hampshire Escapees in Two States

Concord, NH – The United States Marshals Service is pleased to announce the arrest of two inmates that had previously been placed on escape status at the New Hampshire State Prison for Men.

The first arrest came Monday in Jamestown, New York, when fugitive escapee, Shaun Michael Cook was arrested without incident by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Western New York. Cook, 42 years-of-age had been serving a 4 to 10-year prison sentence for a stolen vehicle and a high-speed police chase. On November 27, 2019, Cook was serving part of his time in the transitional housing unit when he failed to return as scheduled and placed on escape status.

Recently, the investigations unit at the New Hampshire State Prison developed information pointing to a possible location for Cook in Jamestown, New York. This information was relayed to the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in New York who were able to take Mr. Cook quickly and safely into custody on Monday afternoon. Cook is being held in New York as a fugitive from justice on the New Hampshire escape warrant. Cook may also be facing additional possible charges for the use of the false name, Sammie Weeks during an earlier arrest in New York. Pending his court appearances in New York, Cook will be returned to New Hampshire to face the escape charge and to finish his prison time on his prior conviction.

The second escapee was arrested on Tuesday and had been featured as the "Fugitive of the Week" on September 2, 2020. Shawn Anthony Tarr, 44 years-of-age was placed on escape status after he walked away from a work site. Tarr had been serving a prison sentence for narcotics, falsifying physical evidence and larceny since May 2019 when he escaped on August 29, 2020. Information was once again developed by the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, Investigations Unit that pointed to a couple of possible locations in Maine. This information was relayed to the U.S. Marshals – Maine Violent Offenders Task Force. On Tuesday, the task force was able to locate and arrest Mr. Tarr in Parsonsfield, Maine, where he was utilizing the alias Jason Anderson at the time of his arrest. Tarr was charged as a fugitive from justice based on the New Hampshire escape warrant and is being held at the Cumberland County Jail pending his return to New Hampshire. Once in New Hampshire, Tarr will answer to the escape charge and complete his prison time on his prior convictions.

The "Fugitive of the Week" feature was aired on WTPL-FM, WMUR-TV, The Union Leader, The Nashua Telegraph, The Patch, Foster's Daily Democrat, Manchester Information, the Manchester Ink Link, the Rochester Voice and prominently featured on the internet. The "Fugitive of the Week" continues to be a very successful tool that has resulted in the location and arrest of numerous fugitives since its implementation in 2007. Additionally, the "Fugitive of the Week" was distributed statewide to all law enforcement officers in New Hampshire.

Since the inception of the U.S. Marshals - New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force in 2002, these partnerships have resulted in over 8,061 arrests (Updated as of 06/30/2020). These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, 8 regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at https://www.usmarshals.gov.