U.S. Marshals Task Force and Toledo Police Arrest Final Suspect in Murder Case

Toledo, OH – Early this morning members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) and Toledo Police Department arrested Phillip Allen Jr., 22, of Toledo for the murder of James Safadi.

Safadi, 34, was shot in the chest in the early morning hours of May 18, 2013, in an armed home invasion at his residence in Waterville. Safadi’s girlfriend hid in the bathroom and called 911. Paramedics arrived and transported Safadi to St. Luke’s Hospital where he later died of his injuries. Initially, information was developed that there were three men responsible but it was later determined there were four suspects.

The initial three suspects, Adam Anderson, 20 of Toledo; Ronald Rooker, 32, of Waterville and James Allen, 18, of Toledo were quickly arrested. Rooker was Safadi’s neighbor and police believe Safadi, whose family owns several carry-out stores in the neighborhood, was specifically targeted. Stolen from the residence was an undisclosed amount of money, jewelry, seven handguns and a large amount of ammunition.

A fourth suspect, Phillip Allen Jr., was identified and evidence was presented to a Grand Jury. Allen was indicted on December 18, 2013 for aggravated murder, aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery; all with firearms specifications.

For the past month, police had been unable to locate Allen. Last week, the NOVFTF and Toledo Police uncovered information on the possible location of Allen. This morning, after conducting surveillance on the location, the NOVFTF and Toledo Police searched a residence on 2900 block of Ontario in North Toledo, and found Allen hiding in the attic.

A second person, Joel Brown, 25, of Toledo was also arrested at the scene for obstruction of justice and weapons under disability. A loaded Smith & Wesson .380 was recovered from the residence.

Both men are in Lucas County Jail awaiting appearance in the Lucas County Common Pleas Court for Allen and Toledo Municipal Court for Brown.

“People should be able to feel safe in their own homes “said Pete Elliott, the U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Ohio. “Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our Task Force and all local law enforcement, we were able to take a dangerous, violent offender off the streets.”

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of a known fugitive is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at: 1-866-4-WANTED or text keyword WANTED and the tip to TIP411 (847411). Tipsters may remain anonymous and a cash reward may be available. The Task Force’s “Dangerous Dozen” fugitives can be viewed at http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/fugitives/pdf/dangerous_dozen.pdf, which is updated monthly.

The NOVFTF Toledo Division consists of the following federal, state and local agencies: Lucas County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Toledo Police Department, United States Marshals Service, Fremont Police Department , Holland Police Department , Ottawa Hills Police Department , Perrysburg Township Police Department, Customs and Border Protection and Wood County Sheriff’s Office.