Wanted Sex Offender Attempts to Evade Police on Bicycle

Concord, NH – The U.S. Marshals Service – NH Joint Fugitive Task Force is pleased to announce that Nov. 30 “Fugitive of the Week,” Craig Pearson, was arrested Sunday in Manchester after trying to evade police. Despite multiple public tips, it was heads-up policing conducted by a Manchester patrol unit that ultimately led to the arrest in an alley behind the 200 block of Merrimack Street. 

Pearson, 39, is a repeat sexual offender after being convicted of indecent exposure/gross lewdness in 2018, and then he committed the same offense again last September. Since the initial conviction, Pearson has been required to register as a sex offender with the Manchester Police Department. This requires that he provide updates with his most recent contact information within five business days of any changes. After being released from the Hillsborough County Department of Corrections on Nov. 6, Pearson failed to register as required, and a felony arrest warrant was issued on Nov. 23. 

Working with Manchester PD’s Sex Offender Compliance Unit, the U.S. Marshals featured Pearson as the “Fugitive of the Week.” Multiple tips came in, but none of them were able to deliver Pearson into custody. However, late Sunday night, patrol officers investigating a report of suspicious activity in the vicinity of Merrimack St. and Maple St. noticed Pearson in the area, and he immediately attempted to ride a bicycle away from the officers, ducking into the alleyway behind Merrimack St. The patrol officers cornered Pearson, who repeatedly refused to identify himself. After being taken into custody for charges related to his attempt to flee, Pearson’s identity was confirmed during booking. 

“The U.S. Marshals and Manchester PD were trading tips back in forth for weeks to try and make life uncomfortable for Pearson,” said Deputy U.S. Marshal Andy Grillo. “We are thankful to the patrol officers that work our neighborhoods continuously, and we appreciate their vigilance in this case.” 

Pearson had been aired as the “Fugitive of the Week” on WTPL-FM, WNTK-FM, WTSN-FM, WEMJ-FM, 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, resulting in the location and arrest of numerous fugitives since its creation in 2007.

Additionally, the “Fugitive of the Week” was distributed throughout the New Hampshire law enforcement network. 

Since the inception of the U.S. Marshals - New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force in 2002, these partnerships have resulted in over 8,587 arrests (Updated as of 12/31/2022). 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.