Gastonia police say a man wanted in Fort Worth, Texas, on allegations of statutory rape of a child is now off the streets after a coordinated, multi-agency effort in the city. Officers announced Wednesday that they had tracked down and arrested Brayan Robles in Gastonia, crediting federal partners with helping close in on the fugitive.
According to the Gastonia Police Department, a social media post declaring "Off the Streets!" said local officers teamed up with the U.S. Marshals Service's Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force to locate Robles. The department identified him as wanted for statutory rape out of Fort Worth but did not release booking details or list any upcoming court date.
How the Fugitive Task Force Works
The Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force is run by the U.S. Marshals Service and works with more than 80 federal, state and local agencies across North and South Carolina to find and arrest fugitives, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Since its launch, the task force has taken thousands of fugitives into custody, making it a go to partner for cross jurisdictional arrests like this one.
Regional Operations and What Comes Next
Federal local sweeps are a familiar tactic in the Charlotte metro, and past initiatives have led to large clusters of arrests when agencies pool resources across county lines, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The Gastonia Police Department's Facebook post did not clarify whether Robles will stay in local custody or be transferred to authorities in Fort Worth for extradition. Officials will have to complete the usual charging and transfer paperwork before any court appearance in Texas can be scheduled.
Legal Notes
An arrest on an out of state warrant is not a finding of guilt, and Robles, like all suspects, is entitled to due process and remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If Fort Worth authorities move forward with charges, they will outline the formal allegations and next steps in that Texas jurisdiction.
