Fugitive that Walked Away from Hospital Apprehended by U.S. Marshals Task Force

Pensacola, FL – The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force captured a Pensacola man who walked out of a hospital in late November last year right before he was to be arrested by Pensacola Police Department on charges of Assault on an Officer, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Resisting an Officer with Violence and Possession of Marijuana over 20 Grams. Anthony Michael Smith, 22, was arrested without incident at the Fairway Villas Apartment Complex off of Michigan Avenue by the Task Force at about 5 o’clock. Smith is also wanted by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office for Robbery with a Weapon, Aggravated Assault with Intent to Commit a Felony, Aggravated Battery on a Person Using a Deadly Weapon, Drug Trafficking; and in Sumter County, FL for Violation of Probation on original charges of Possession of Cannabis of 20 Grams or less.

US Marshals assisted by Task Force members from Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties as well as Pensacola Police Department began surveillance early this afternoon after determining that Smith was hiding out there. During the surveillance it became obvious that people in the apartment were getting suspicious.

“At one point, they even tried to use a decoy to lure us away from the apartment when they dressed up a female in men’s style clothes and left in car hoping that we would give chase,” said Inspector Dominic Guadagnoli with the Task Force.

The initial incident occurred in the early morning hours of November 6 when a PPD Officer was driving around in the area of Davis Street and Texar Drive searching for suspects involved in a shooting/homicide that occurred near Texar Drive and Palafox Street. When the Officer tried to contact people in a maroon Chevrolet truck one of them fled on foot. The Officer chased a male later identified as Smith through a grass lot where the suspect ran behind a large oak tree. When the Officer tried to further pursue Smith he allegedly pointed a handgun at him. The Officer shot at and struck Smith, who was admitted to Baptist Hospital.

Smith was brought to the Escambia County Jail and booked without bond.