St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands - Yesterday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers detected William Gartz, 60, who has an outstanding warrant in Martin County, Fla., for charges of driving under the influence.
CBP Officers detected Gartz during pre-clearance inspection at the Cyril E. King Airport, where computer systems alerted of a positive match to a National Crime Information Center docket.
Gartz was scheduled to board a Sprit Airlines flight to Las Vegas via Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
After corroborating the warrant, CBP officers allowed Gartz to fly to Ft. Lauderdale, where the Broward County sheriffs office made the formal arrest.
Through pre-clearance inspections, CBP Officers detect many individuals wanted by authorities in the continental U.S., upon their return to the mainland from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
"CBP officers are always vigilant of dangerous individuals who try to move freely, trying to elude detection," stated Marcelino Borges, director of field operations for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. "Technology and close collaboration amongst law enforcement allows us to detect felons and bring them to justice."