COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — U.S. Marshals and Coeur d’Alene police arrested a fugitive and rescued a missing child in Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday night.
Ronald Whitted, 47, of Fort Worth, Texas, was arrested on charges of interference with child custody – court order. Authorities said Whitted allegedly fled the state with his 6-year-old son on March 17 and was believed to have tried to flee the country.
Authorities also believed the child was in danger.
The Hurst Police Department in Hurst, Texas, requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force to help locate Whitted and his son. Members of the task force then learned Whitted possibly traveled to Idaho and contacted the U.S. Marshals Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force for help.
The task force tracked Whitted and his son to an apartment in downtown Coeur d’Alene. They safely arrested Whitted and recovered the missing child.
“The diligence of the Community Action Team significantly contributed to the best outcome in this case,” said Brent Bunn, U.S. Marshal for the District of Idaho. “Task Force Officers and Deputy U.S. Marshals demonstrated great investigative ability and patience in developing an arrest plan to ensure the safety of the child. That was our priority.”
