U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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| In Reply, Please Refer to Release No. |
219 South Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604 |
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June 21, 2001 Escaped Prisoner Arrested Kathleen L. McChesney, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today the arrest of REGINALD MICHAEL POTTS, age 24, whose last known address is 8313 South Essex in Chicago. POTTS was arrested at 2:45 this morning by the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) at 919 East Hyde Park Boulevard in Chicago. Investigation by the VCTF indicated that POTTS might be staying at that location, which is the apartment home of a female friend. Upon being confronted by VCTF members, POTTS attempted to flee, first on a motorcycle, then on foot. POTTS was captured after a short foot chase, with no injuries reported. VCTF members were assisted in the arrest by Officers from the Chicago Police Department, 21st District and University of Chicago Campus Police. The FBI's VCTF is comprised of FBI Special Agents, Chicago Police Detectives and Cook County Sheriff's Police Detectives. POTTS has been turned over to the Hoffman Estates, Illinois Police Department, where he faces local charges of auto theft. POTTS also faces additional local charges in Highland Park and Chicago for a variety of felony offenses. Federal charges filed against POTTS for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution will likely be dismissed, later today. POTTS has been the subject of an extensive nationwide manhunt since escaping from the Dirksen Federal Building on June 8th. POTTS had been arrested by VCTF members, earlier that day, but managed to escape while briefly left unattended in a prisoner processing room, handcuffed to a bench. An internal investigation into POTTS' escape is still pending. The public is reminded that criminal charges are not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. SAC McChesney will hold a media briefing to discuss this arrest at 2:30 P.M. today. The briefing will be held in the FBI conference room, located on the 9th floor of the Dirksen Federal Building, 219 South Dearborn Street. |
