Valley task force nabs most-wanted fugitive

Photo

Thomas Nickerson

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Thomas E. Nickerson, 23, of West Boston Avenue, wanted by the FBI / Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force, is in Mahoning County jail on a $500,000 bond after his arrest on several parole violations, including one for felonious assault.

Nickerson appeared for arraignment Thursday before Judge Robert Douglas of Youngstown Municipal Court. He was given a court-appointed attorney and also ordered to have no contact with his alleged victims if he makes bond and gets out of jail.

Nickerson is due back in municipal court March 18.

Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force arrested Nickerson on Wednesday afternoon. He was a fugitive on the marshals most-wanted list.

The task force made the arrest at 3 p.m. after a foot pursuit that led to a house in the 300 block of East Boston Avenue. He surrendered after being warned by task-force members that a police dog would be sent into the house to find him.

A task-force spokesman said Nickerson was spotted in a car by police, who followed him to the Boston address.

Nickerson is charged with parole violations of burglary and receiving stolen property, felonious assault, aggravated robbery and illegal possession of weapons, the task-force spokesman said.

The task force was established in 1992 to address violent crime in the Valley. It combines resources from federal, state and local law-enforcement agencies.