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SOUTH BRUNSWICK – U.S. Marshals nab SB robbery fugitive

By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
   U.S. Marshals arrested fugitive robbery suspect Lee Capers, 25, in Sacramento, California, Friday afternoon, according to police.
   Mr. Capers, of Franklin, was sought on an arrest warrant for allegedly robbing a cab driver at knifepoint on Dec. 20, according to Sgt. James Ryan.
   ”South Brunswick Police and the U.S. Marshal Service tracked investigative leads and tips from some of his friends to track him down,” Sgt. Ryan said. “He will be extradited (to New Jersey) pending a court hearing in California.”
   According to Sgt. Ryan, Mr. Capers was arrested at a Sacramento, California residence by U.S. Marshals based in that city at about 5 p.m. Friday.
   Carolyn Griffin, a supervising U.S. Marshal deputy in Sacramento, said Tuesday that Mr. Capers was arrested without incident.
   Mr. Capers was arrested at a residence that the U.S. Marshals believe belongs to an unidentified extended family member, Deputy Griffin said.
   Officers in California made the arrest based on information given to them by the U.S. Marshal Task Force in New Jersey, Deputy Griffin said.
   Deputy Griffin said there are no warrants in California for Mr. Capers and he was only arrested for the New Jersey charges of robbery, possession of weapon for unlawful purposes, and aggravated assault with a weapon.
   Mr. Capers will appear in front of the Sacramento Superior Court, Deputy Griffin said.
   His extradition to New Jersey will depend if he fights being brought back in court, Deputy Griffin said.
   He will have a public defender, and if he fights extradition, there will be state court processes to be finished before he can be brought back to New Jersey, Deputy Griffin said.
   Sgt. Ryan said Detective Ron Seaman, who led the investigation, reached out to the U.S. Marshals about two weeks ago.
   Mr. Capers is allegedly a member of the Bloods gang, and apparently left New Jersey after he found out he was being sought by police, Sgt. Ryan said.
   Mr. Capers allegedly robbed and tried to stab a cab driver after being driven from Dunellen to the Whispering Woods development on Route 1 at 1:45 a.m. Dec. 20, according to police.
   After the attempt, the unidentified driver fled the scene and called police, Sgt. Ryan said.
   That same month, Mr. Capers allegedly threatened to “slit the throat” of an unidentified Manville police officer, and he was also previously convicted of stabbing a man after an argument in South Brunswick in 2008, Sgt. Ryan said.
   Mr. Capers also had a $50,000 warrant for an unrelated aggravated assault charge, Sgt. Ryan said.
   Paul Fazioli, a deputy U.S. Marshal, said Mr. Capers also goes by the alias Tyrese McCuthen and was last known to reside at 613 Coventry Lane in Somerset.