Fugitive identified, charges released

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The object of a manhunt in Maricopa last Friday has been identified.

On May 6 Johnny P. Clements, age 33, was visiting a residence in the 43000 block of West Oster Drive, located in The Villages at Rancho El Dorado.

Clements reportedly fled when U.S. Marshals descended upon the house around noon and was captured and arrested several hours later. Officers from at least three agencies – U.S. Marshals Service, Maricopa Police Department and Pinal County Sheriff’s Office – were involved.

The warrant was being served on Clements by U.S. Marshals, who proceeded without notifying the Maricopa Police Department (see Marshals hunt fugitive without telling MPD).

“In this particular incident, the Maricopa Police Department was notified of the suspect on the loose, after he eluded the task force that was trying to arrest him,” said Chief Kirk Fitch. “We responded to assist them.”

Clements, who is still in custody, was arrested on a warrant issued on April 28 out of Sierra Vista. He has been charged with child molestation, luring a minor for sex and sexual abuse, according to Sierra Vista Police Sgt. Brett Mitchell.

“We (our task force) was assisting in the apprehension of the suspect; this was a Sierra Vista case, and remains as such,” said Deputy U.S. Marshal Christopher DeRosa in an e-mail to InMaricopa.

In regard to the notification of Maricopa police, DeRosa said, “To answer ‘when’ Maricopa was notified to assist, I can't answer that because I don't know. What I can say is that they did respond in assisting us in the apprehension of the subject.”

“Maricopa PD was notified of us being in the area looking for the subject, and they were a part of the arrest team that was assisting us,” DeRosa said. “So, to answer your question, they were notified. We regularly ask local law enforcement (Pinal Co., Maricopa Co., Pima Co., etc.) for their assistance, as we did in this matter, to help in the apprehension of fugitives.”

Because Clements was captured in the vicinity of Butterfield Elementary School, student safety was a concern. Dr. Ember Conley, principal, reported that the school was not officially put into complete lockdown.

Conley was notified by an officer that the fugitive did not place the school in immediate danger. She did, however, take precautionary measures. “We kept doors locked and didn’t allow recess,” said Conley. Prior to releasing students for the day the school received confirmation from both the district office and MPD that it was “safe and acceptable.”