U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and Pennsylvania State Police Arrest Firearms Suspect

Scranton, PA – Today, United States Marshal Martin J. Pane announced the arrest of Andre Johnson, a 28-year-old man with past addresses in Philadelphia.

On December 31, 2021, a Scranton police officer stopped a vehicle driven by Johnson. Although initially cooperative, Johnson later fled in his vehicle. A short time later officers spotted Johnson’s vehicle and attempted to stop it, but it fled again. Still later, officers found the vehicle crashed into a building. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed three handguns, a high-capacity magazine, and items linking Johnson to the vehicle and its contents. An arrest warrant was issued charging Johnson with carrying firearms without a license, fleeing and eluding police officers, and lesser included offenses.

Attempts to find Johnson were unsuccessful and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force was asked to apprehend him. Task force members investigated and learned that he would likely be found in a home in the 800 block of South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre.

This morning at about 6 a.m., members of the Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team and the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force searched the home and arrested Johnson without incident.

United States Marshal Pane stated, "It's the Marshals Services' duty to ensure that those charged with violent crimes have their day in court. It is my sincere hope that members of the affected communities will find some measure of comfort knowing this suspect will face justice."

The U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force in the Middle District of Pennsylvania is comprised of 20 state, county, and local police agencies, including: the Pennsylvania State Police; the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole; the Wilkes-Barre Police Department; the Kingston Police Department; the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office; and the Scranton Police Department – all of whom participated in this investigation.