Marshals turn to billboards to nab fugitives - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Federal investigators are using a new weapon for finding fugitives who are putting your safety at risk.

Your drive home could help crack a crime. The U.S. Marshals can't raid a dangerous fugitive's hiding place until they know where he is.

"A large percentage of our fugitives are captured with the public's assistance. Either through a Crime Stoppers call or a call to our toll-free line," said Deputy Marshall John Beeman.

In central Indiana alone, the Marshals' felony task force arrests about 1,700 people a year. Eighty percent of that is thanks to tips from the public.

Now, the Marshals have a new weapon. They hope someone in the heavy traffic on roads like Fall Creek Parkway looks over to the big digital advertising signs alongside the road. At just the right moment, they'll see the photo of a federal fugitive.

For example, every 65 seconds, fugitive sex offender Clyde M. Hall Jr. shows his face to folks at the fairgrounds and in cars on Fall Creek Parkway. He's up for about seven seconds under a new deal between Clear Channel and the U.S. Marshals.

But is that short time enough to make a difference?

"Oh, yes. We get a call. 'We saw this guy on a billboard'," Beeman said. "Fugitives say that just killed me when I saw my picture on a billboard."

Photographer Don Childers was working at the Fairgrounds right under the Clear Channel sign. He knows something about the impact of images.

"Well, if it's an acquaintance or someone I have seen before, absolutely I would know them, because look at that photograph...it's vivid. I think it's a great instrument," he said.

The FBI has already used the technique. Earlier this year, they had Hoosier fugitive Eric Toth up on the big board. He replaced Osama bin Laden on the Ten Most Wanted list.

A fairgrounds visitor passing under the sign likes the new program.

"Excellent idea. Do anything you can to catch sex offenders," Jason Maus said.

If you have information about a fugitive, you can call the U.S. Marshals' office at 1-877-926-8332.