Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force Surpasses 60,000 Arrests

Cleveland, OH – U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott announced today that the U.S. Marshals led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) has surpassed 60,000 arrests. 

Members of the Cleveland NOVFTF arrested David Wayne Garner, 40.  Garner marks the 60,000th arrest for the NOVFTF. Garner was wanted by the East Cleveland Police Department for aggravated murder.  The murder occurred on January 20, 2025, in the 1700 block of Shaw Ave. in East Cleveland.  According to police, Garner shot and killed the victim while he was sitting in his car.  While a fugitive, Garner evaded law enforcement on multiple occasions. However, on March 24, 2025, Garner was located and arrested by the NOVFTF during a traffic stop near the 2200 block of Brockway Ave in University Heights. 

Since the inception of the NOVFTF in June 2003, over 2,400 homicide suspects have been arrested.  These arrests have taken place all throughout northern Ohio as well as across the country due to the reach of the USMS as well as the partnerships across the country with the state and local police departments.  These homicide arrests include Andre McCoy who was wanted for the September 21, 2020, shooting death of 4-year-old Rowan Sweeney in Struthers, Ohio.  It also includes the out of state arrest of fugitive Martino Giles, who was a wanted fugitive on the run for 8 years.  Giles was wanted for the shooting death of his roommate, DaAndre Jackson.  After years on the run, he was arrested by the NOVFTF in Bloomington, Illinois. 

In addition to the over 2,400 homicide arrests, the NOVFTF has arrested more than 2,500 people wanted for rape, over 4,800 wanted for robberies and another 9,700 wanted for felonious assault.  While working fugitive cases the task force often encounters fugitive who, while on the run, continue to carry firearms.  Fugitives such as Adarus Black, who while on the run for the murder of Na’Kia Crawford in Akron, was arrested in possession of an AR type rifle.  Over the past 23 years the NOVFTF has seized more than 2,900 guns.

Additionally, over 4.5 million in U.S. currency has been seized. 

In June 2003, the NOVFTF was created in memory of Cleveland Police Patrolman Wayne Leon who was killed in the line of duty by a fugitive on the run.  Patrolman Leon’s memory lives on through the men and woman assigned to this task force throughout northern Ohio.  Since the inception, the task force has grown from a couple teams across the northern district of Ohio to 9 fugitive investigation/apprehension teams, a missing child unit, cold case unit, sex offender investigations, and a full-time training instructor. 

“Although the success of this task force is often measured in the number of arrests made each day, it is also measured in the partnerships that have been built and sustained over the last 22 years,” U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated.  “Partnership and teamwork are exemplified here in northern Ohio; without the daily positive working relationship of the law enforcement community and the civilian community the task force would not have the success it has had.  We are grateful for that.”

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.