Baton Rouge, LA - The U.S. Marshals Service announces another successful year for their Middle District of Louisiana Fugitive Task Force. Even though COVID-19 affected operations several times in 2021, the task force worked tirelessly to arrest 518 violent offenders. Of those arrested, 208 were wanted by the Baton Rouge Police Department. The task force also seized 66 firearms during those arrests. As Chief Murphy J. Paul Jr. stated at his recent press conference, the U.S. Marshals Service is a partner with the Baton Rouge Police Department in their efforts to arrest violent fugitives.
“These fugitives were not only arrested in the Middle District of Louisiana, but also on requests for assistance to other U.S. Marshals task forces in all parts of the country," said U.S. Marshal William Brown. “As always, our office stands ready and willing to assist all our law enforcement partners in arresting their violent fugitives." The U.S. Marshals also had a significant role in a domestic violence warrant operation lead by Chief Paul in 2020.
Two cases that garnered local media attention were those of Kejuan Jenkins and Malik Williams. On May 21, 2021, our task force arrested Jenkins in Baton Rouge on warrants for attempted first degree murder, armed robbery, rape, armed robbery with use of firearm, aggravated kidnapping, and burglary from four different local agencies. Jenkins, who cut off an ankle monitoring device, was arrested at a north Baton Rouge apartment complex. Five firearms were seized at the time of his arrest.
On Oct. 28, 2021, Williams was arrested by the U.S. Marshals task force in Houston, Texas after a request for assistance was sent to them on the previous day. Williams, who was in jail for armed robbery, had escaped from confinement with four others after assaulting a jail guard. Williams was charged with armed robbery, aggravated escape, and battery of a correctional officer. Williams’ girlfriend was also arrested for aggravated escape and accessory after the fact.
The U.S. Marshals Service established the Middle District of Louisiana Fugitive Task Force in 1995. The Middle District of Louisiana is comprised of East Baton Rouge and the surrounding eight parishes. The task force focuses on violent state and federal wanted fugitives and is staffed by investigators from the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Border Patrol, Baton Rouge Police Department, West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Probation and Parole.
