U.S Marshals Task Force Arrests York County Megan's Law Violator Suspect in Florida

York, Pa. - U.S. Marshals in Florida Monday arrested a Pennsylvania sex offender who had failed to register with the state police here. On April 6, 2017, the York City Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for Jose Ruiz-Hernandez, 36, charging him with failure to register with the Pennsylvania State Police, a violation of Megan’s Law. Attempts to arrest Ruiz-Hernandez in York County were unsuccessful and the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force was requested for assistance in apprehension.

During the course of the investigation, information was developed that Ruiz-Hernandez may have traveled from Pennsylvania to Florida, and a collateral lead was sent to the U.S. Marshals Service in the Middle District of Florida. Ruiz-Hernandez was arrested by the U.S. Marshals in the 7000 block of North Church Avenue in Mulberry. Ruiz-Hernandez was turned over to local authorities and awaits extradition to Pennsylvania.

“The U.S. Marshals Service is dedicated to its sex offender apprehension mission and extends the reach of state and local police agencies so they can better prosecute Megan’s Law violators,” U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Martin Pane said.

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 designated the USMS as the federal agency responsible for helping local and state authorities locate and arrest convicted sex offenders who fail to comply with their registration requirements.

The USMS Fugitive Task Force worked jointly in this investigation with members from the York City Police Department, York County District Attorney’s Office, York County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, Polk County Sheriff’s Department and the USMS Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force.