Florida felon hiding out in Fargo being extradited back to the Sunshine State to face charges

“You can run but you cannot hide,” perfectly sums up the story of a man wanted for multiple crimes in South Florida who thought he could best hide out in the North Dakota wilderness.  On January 31, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO) based in Vero Beach, Florida, announced that their Street Crimes Unit and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force were notified about an active case involving a wanted fugitive, Patrick O’Rourke.

That notification came down on January 12 and identified O’Rourke as the primary suspect of an active Indian River County, Florida, investigation for Grand Theft Auto, Armed Burglary, and the theft of approximately 16 firearms. O’Rourke also had active Indian River County warrants from 2011 for Burglary of a Dwelling, Grand Theft, and Fraud Under $20,000.

O’Rourke has been a wanted man by law enforcement officials in Florida since 2011, according to CBS News in South Florida. 

On January 13, the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force began actively looking for O’Rourke. Through leads uncovered during the course of their investigation, U.S. Marshalls were able to determine that O’Rourke had fled to fled to North Dakota where he was living in an effort to avoid apprehension.

Yesterday, law enforcement caught up with him.   

On January 31, he was found hiding out in Fargo, North Dakota, and taken into custody by the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Fargo.

Online records show an address for O’Rourke listed as 500 1st Ave S #204, in Grand Forks, North Dakota.  The 72-year-old fugitive had been living there since May 2011.

O’Rourke will be extradited back to Indian River County to face his local charges.

(Source and images: Indian River County Sheriff’s Office)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram