U.S. Marshals Capture "15 Most Wanted" Fugitive

COVINGTON, KY Less than three weeks after being named to the U.S. Marshals "15 Most Wanted Fugitives" list, serial bank robber and prison escapee Anthony "Tony" Ray Artrip is now in custody after U.S. Marshals Deputies, joined by state and local authorities, arrested him in a hotel in South Fayette Township, Pa., at approximately 2:30 p.m on October 8. Artrip, 35, of Ashland, Ky., was arrested without incident following a standoff at the hotel outside of Pittsburgh. Tips led Marshals Deputies to the Knights Inn in South Fayette, where they attempted an arrest at a room rented by Artrip at approximately 9:30. When authorities entered the room, Artrip was gone and had apparently escaped by climbing through the ceiling tiles and was in the hotel attic prompting authorities to evacuate the motel, secure the area and establish a perimeter. He had remained in the hotel during the standoff. Artrip was wanted by U.S. Marshals in the Eastern District of Kentucky since his June escape from the Grant County, Kentucky Detention Center. Following his escape, Artrip is a suspect in at least five bank robberies in West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan and Georgia. During the commission of these robberies, Artrip allegedly drew a handgun on several tellers. Artrip was nearly apprehended in Asheville, N.C., on Sept. 11, 2007, but escaped after a vehicle pursuit. Recently, Artrip was profiled on FOX-TV's America's Most Wanted. It is believed that tips into this program aided the Marshals efforts to apprehend Artrip. Prior to his escape, Artrip was awaiting sentencing in federal court for three counts of bank robbery, following a conviction in Ohio.