A kidnapping suspect who narrowly escaped District police in a shoot-out three years ago remains at large, and U.S. marshals want the public’s help in tracking him down.
On a snowy day in December 2005, police got a tip that Derrick Arthur, who a day earlier had abducted a 26-year-old woman at gunpoint, was hiding at a Days Inn in the 2700 block of New York Avenue NE.
As officers called in the SWAT unit and stationed themselves in the parking lot outside Arthur’s room, Arthur dragged out his victim and yelled at police. He then took the woman back into the room. Hours later, Arthur used a remote-control device to start his 2001 silver Infiniti in the parking lot, and jumped behind the wheel.
An armored police truck rushed to block Arthur’s vehicle. Officers fired at the car and one officer was injured, struck by an errant bullet. Arthur crashed his car into an iron fence and dashed across the street into the National Arboretum, a 446-acre complex of forest and gardens.
Police conducted a massive manhunt, but never found Arthur. He has been on the run ever since.
“Arthur is clearly a threat to the community and should be considered armed and dangerous,” said Matt Burke, supervisory inspector with the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Arthur, 37, goes by the names Durk, Funk and Punk, police said. He is 5-feet-11 and about 158 pounds.
Anyone with information on Arthur’s whereabouts can call the U.S. Marshals Service at 301-489-1717 or 800-336-0102. Law enforcement authorities are offering a reward for information leading to his arrest.
The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, run by the U.S. Marshals Service, is composed of 28 federal, state and local agencies from Baltimore to Norfolk, Va. The unit has captured more than 19,000 wanted fugitives since its creation in 2004.
