Wanted Fugitive Surrenders from Roof Top Perch in Indianapolis

Four Hour Standoff Ends Peacefully

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Indiana State Police assisted the U.S. Marshal’s Joint Fugitive Task Force with the arrest of a wanted suspect today, January 12, 2010. Wilson Arias, 27 of the Indianapolis area was a fugitive from justice wanted in two Indiana counties; Shelby County for an arson fire that resulted in serious injury and Marion County for drug dealing.

State police officers working with the U.S. Marshal’s Joint Fugitive Task Force developed information that Wilson Arias was working a construction job at a residence in the 8200 block of Palmetto Lane on the south side of Indianapolis.  When they arrived at the residence Arias was working on a roof top with two other workers.  When told he was wanted for the open warrants Arias refused to come down from the roof.

Though he was dressed to be outdoors the combination of the weather, the need to go to the bathroom, pleading from his co-worker and an extended conversation with an Indiana State Police hostage negotiator convinced Arias the state police and the U.S. Marshal’s weren’t going to leave without him. 

The standoff that started around 10:15 this morning ended at 2:15 this afternoon when Arias came off the two story rooftop under his own power and surrendered to state police personnel.  He was then transported to the Shelby County Jail to answer an existing arson charge.

At the scene there were personnel from the U.S. Marshal’s Office, the Indiana State Police, inclusive of state police Emergency Response Personnel (ERT), the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Indianapolis Fire Department.