Wednesday, March 15, 2006
POLAND -- Representatives of the U.S. Marshal's Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested a fugitive accused in the rape of a child in Alabama, and he is in the Mahoning County jail awaiting extradition.
Terrance Edward Cheirs, 30, who gave several addresses on Youngstown's South Side, was arrested about 5 p.m. Tuesday at 7374 North Lima Road here.
He is wanted on a warrant dated March 18, 2005, from Etowah County, Ala., said Dean Michael, task force coordinator.
Cheirs is charged with seven counts that include sexual abuse, incest, rape and sodomy involving a child under 12, Michael added.
Details were not available on the child's exact age or when the crimes were supposed to have taken place.
Michael said charges of harboring a fugitive could be filed against the occupant of the address where Cheirs was found. Michael said the task force, which includes representatives from state and local agencies, worked in cooperation with the Youngstown Police Department to arrest Cheirs. Youngstown police turned the warrant over to the task force after receiving it from Alabama.
Michael said Cheirs has family in Youngstown and he was in Alabama visiting relatives when the abuse was supposed to have been committed.
Michael said the task force received tips that led to the arrest after Cheirs was featured as the Fugitive of the Week in Monday's Vindicator.