Gastonia police, working with state and federal partners, say they took a “dangerous felon” off the streets Thursday after a coordinated operation that ended with the arrest of Otis Lamar Hunter on a slate of serious charges.
Hunter is facing multiple felony counts, including possession of a firearm by a felon, assault with a deadly weapon with minors present, discharge of a weapon into occupied property, four counts of domestic assault, felony flee to elude and a parole violation, according to authorities. Officials credited a targeted, multi-agency effort with tracking him down in Gastonia.
Arrest and Charges
According to the Gastonia Police Department, Hunter was arrested in Gastonia during an operation that brought together Gastonia officers, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction's Special Operations and Intelligence Unit, and the U.S. Marshals Service's Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force.
The department’s post lists the felony counts as possession of a firearm by a felon, assault with a deadly weapon with minors present, discharge of a firearm into occupied property, four counts of domestic assault, felony flee to elude and violation of parole. The agency did not specify where in the city the arrest occurred or whether officers recovered any weapons during the operation.
Partners on the Operation
The U.S. Marshals' Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force leads efforts to locate and apprehend violent fugitives in partnership with dozens of federal, state and local agencies, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. That kind of task force is typically called in when suspects are considered high risk or hard to catch.
The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction's Special Operations and Intelligence Unit provides intelligence, investigative and operational support in cases involving high-risk offenders, which the unit says helps improve safety during multi-jurisdiction operations, per the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
Legal Note
All of the listed counts are allegations, and Hunter is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Gastonia police stated that the department is committed to protecting the residents of Gastonia and holding violent offenders accountable, according to the Gastonia Police Department. Gaston County prosecutors will decide on formal charges and next legal steps.
