Youngstown youth agency's suspicion leads to arrest of Arizona fugitive wanted on sex charges

A man wanted on various sex offenses in Arizona was arrested in Austintown Friday night as a result of alert officials at the Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown.

U.S. Marshal’s Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested James Petty, 41. Petty was wanted by authorities in Pima County Arizona for multiple counts of sex offenses including voyeurism.

Late this afternoon, members of the U.S. Marshals in Youngstown were notified by the Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown that a suspicious male was at their facility asking questions about volunteering to help the boys and girls.

The staff notified law enforcement who worked with the members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force to identify the person. After authorities identified the man as Petty, they discovered he was a wanted fugitive out of Pima County, Arizona.

Police officials began searching the local hotels and motels seeking a vehicle Petty was suspected of driving based on club security video.

The car was located at a hotel on Clarkins Drive in Austintown. Officers received full cooperation from the staff at the hotel, who confirmed Petty was staying at the hotel.

Officers located Petty in room and immediately placed him in custody. Members of the task force, along with officers from the Austintown Police Department discovered numerous items believed to be used for credit card fraud purposes.

The items were seized as evidence and Petty was transported to the Mahoning County Jail.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott praised the club.

“The staff at the Boys and Girls Club used their training and experience to determine that Petty was a threat to the children and they did not hesitate to contact authorities. Their awareness, combined with the immediate response by the fugitive task force, made this fugitive’s time on the run come to an end.”