Walter Leonard Smalls, a 69-year-old Oregon man, found himself back in custody after a lapse in his legal journey that spanned states and months. The U.S. Marshals Service laid claim to another victory with Smalls' arrest on Tuesday. The coordination between the U.S. Marshals Service in West Tennessee and Oregon ultimately led to apprehending Smalls, who was wanted for a drug-related charge, according to the U.S. Marshals press release.
Smalls' legal predicaments began when he was stopped by a Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy on May 3, 2023, for traffic infractions on I-40. A probable cause search of his RV revealed a cornucopia of illegal substances — 437 pounds of marijuana, an assortment of THC cartridges and edibles, and mushroom chocolates. After securing release on bond, Smalls' situation took a turn for the fugitive when he, missed his court date scheduled for August 12, 2024, as the U.S. Marshals' press release detailed.
Diligence on the part of the U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force in Jackson (TRVFTF) saw Smalls' case adopted and pursued with purpose. Leads indicated Smalls had returned to Oregon, which prompted the involvement of the USMS Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force. Their combined efforts were key in tracking down the fugitive to a residence in Wolf Creek, Oregon.
Upon his arrest, Smalls was taken to Josephine County Jail, where he awaits the resumption of judicial proceedings. The U.S. Marshals Service TRVFTF, with its multi-agency composition and a track record adorned with over 3,000 captured offenders since 2021, reminds us that evasion of the court’s reach is a temporary state at best.
