Washington U.S. Marshals arrested two suspects Monday who allegedly posed as deputy U.S. Marshals during a home invasion in Alabama.
Both suspects allegedly entered the victims’ home posing as law enforcement, held them at gunpoint, and stole valuables, the U.S. Marshals Service announced.
“Impersonating law enforcement undermines public trust and threatens community safety,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Donrien Stephens for the Western District of Washington. “Our local and federal partners demonstrated exceptional teamwork, helping bring these dangerous offenders to swift justice.”
Suspects face robbery, burglary and impersonation charges
Ramiro Vasquez, 39, and Zealand Adams, 41, were both wanted by the Auburn Police Department (APD) in Alabama for multiple counts of robbery, burglary, unlawful imprisonment, and impersonating a peace officer.
APD investigators requested help from the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force to apprehend Vasquez and Adams. Investigators determined that Adams fled to Kent and Vasquez fled to Chico, California after the home invasion.
Law enforcement sent leads to the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force in Washington and the Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force in California. Both agencies coordinated a simultaneous arrest operation on Sept. 28.
Both suspects were arrested without incident and booked into local jails, awaiting extradition to Alabama.
The U.S. Marshals Service noted that in 2014, Adams held a 2-year-old hostage during a five-hour standoff with Utah police after he led officers on a high-speed chase.
In that incident, Adams was wanted in connection with a murder in Louisiana. Adams was later convicted of kidnapping in Utah and manslaughter in Alabama.
Anyone with information on wanted fugitives is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-366-0102, or send a tip to usmstips@usdoj.gov.
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