Two men accused of posing as deputy U.S. marshals during an Auburn home invasion have been arrested in Washington and California after investigators tracked them across the country.
Zealand Jamar Adams, 41, and Ramiro Vasquez, 39, were arrested Sept. 28. Each faces four counts of first-degree burglary, four counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of unlawful imprisonment and one count of impersonating a peace officer, according to Auburn police.
The charges stem from a Sept. 3 home invasion in the 1300 block of East University Drive. Officers responded to a robbery complaint at a residence in the early morning hours.
Authorities allege the men entered the victims’ home posing as law enforcement officers, held them at gunpoint and stole valuables.
Auburn police reported that investigators used automated license plate reader technology to identify the suspects’ rental vehicle and confirm their movement out of Alabama.
Auburn investigators also requested help from the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, task force investigators determined Adams had fled to Kent, Washington, and Vasquez to Chico, California.
That information was shared with the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force in Washington and the Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force in California, which coordinated the arrests.
Both men were arrested without incident and booked into local jails. As of Sept. 30, both were awaiting extradition to Alabama.
“Impersonating law enforcement undermines public trust and threatens community safety,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Donrien Stephens for the Western District of Washington. “Our local and federal partners demonstrated exceptional teamwork, helping bring these dangerous offenders to swift justice.”
The U.S. Marshals Service also reported that Adams held a 2-year-old hostage during a five-hour standoff with Utah police in 2014 after leading officers on a high-speed chase.
At the time, Adams was wanted in connection with a murder in Louisiana. He was later convicted of kidnapping in Utah and manslaughter in Louisiana, according to the agency.
Both suspects were awaiting return to Alabama to face the Auburn charges.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
