Ray County jail fugitive finds himself back behind bars, following exhaustive joint HSI Kansas City, law enforcement partner manhunt
Fugitive captured due to strong law enforcement partnership and community-wide involvement
Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Kansas City Taekuk Cho, HSI KC special agents and Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers transfer Robinson to Clay County authorities April 7.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Fugitive Justin Robinson, who escaped from the Ray County Jail on the evening of March 27, is back in custody, April 7, due to the unified effort of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Kansas City, the Ray County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and a variety of concerned citizens.
“Our partnership with federal and local agencies, like both Ray and Clay County Sheriff’s Offices, is essential to public safety,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Kansas City Taekuk Cho. “Our duty to protect the community is a shared responsibility. When agencies work together, we can capture and remove dangerous individuals, like Robinson, from our streets in a safer, more controlled, and succinct manner.”
“I couldn’t be more grateful for the top notch support I received from HSI Kansas City,” said Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers. “Without their support, we may not have tracked down this dangerous fugitive as quickly as we did. Rest assured; we will continue to grow our already strong partnership with HSI to the betterment of the entire community.”
Robinson is charged with first-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly stabbing his pregnant girlfriend. He may face additional charges.
The HSI investigation is ongoing.
Robinson will be held at the Clay County Detention Center, pending his criminal case.
"When we say we are a community partner, we mean it. We are fortunate to have the facility and the staffing to securely and safely hold inmates who pose a significant risk to public safety,” said Clay County Sheriff Will Akin. “We were happy to help our neighbors to the east by housing this inmate to ensure the safety of everyone."
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
“Community engagement is just as important as our law enforcement relationships,” continued Cho. “With all of our operations, we must prioritize the safety of the community while still effectively conducting our mission. While that can be difficult at times, when law enforcement and the public work together toward a common goal, our operations are more likely to have a safer, more expedient, and favorable result.”
Tipsters who want to report suspicious or criminal activity can contact the HSI Tip Line by calling (866) 347-2423.
Learn more about HSI’s law enforcement and community partnerships on Twitter @HSIKansasCity.
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