Executive Summary
- Dustin Vernon Thomas was arrested in Clearfield, Pa., after a suspicious person report.
- The suspect allegedly attempted to flee police responding to a trespassing call.
- Thomas is wanted by U.S. Marshals for weapon charges and has a warrant in West Virginia.
- Extradition proceedings are expected to follow local processing.
CLEARFIELD, Pa. — Authorities in Pennsylvania have apprehended a fugitive sought by federal agents following a report of suspicious activity at a commercial property in Clearfield County. Dustin Vernon Thomas, 39, of New York, was taken into custody on the morning of February 24 by the Clearfield Regional Police Department.
According to the official police report, officers responded to a call at approximately 7:00 a.m. regarding a suspicious individual near the Clearfield Shawville Highway in Lawrence Township. Upon arrival, law enforcement personnel observed a man, later identified as Thomas, attempting to access a closed establishment that had “no trespassing” signage clearly posted.
Investigators stated that when officers attempted to detain Thomas, he fled the scene on foot. Police successfully subdued the suspect shortly thereafter. Subsequent identification checks revealed that Thomas was the subject of an active arrest warrant issued by the U.S. Marshals Service for weapon-related offenses, as well as an outstanding warrant from the state of West Virginia.
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Procedural Next Steps
Following his capture, Thomas was remanded to the Clearfield County Jail. In addition to the existing warrants, he has been charged locally with resisting arrest. Police authorities confirmed that both the U.S. Marshals Service and the state of West Virginia have expressed intent to extradite Thomas to address the charges pending in their respective jurisdictions. This incident underscores the critical role of routine patrol responses in facilitating the apprehension of federally wanted individuals.
