Puerto Rico Murder Suspect Arrested by U.S. Marshals in Akron

Akron, OH – This afternoon, members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested wanted fugitive, Luis Joan Diaz-Rojas. Diaz-Rojas, 41, was wanted by the Puerto Rico Police Department for homicide.

It is alleged that on November 26, 2020, Diaz-Rojas drove his vehicle at a high rate of speed and purposely struck a vehicle that was occupied by a Jose Ramon Lago-Baez. The impact of the collision killed Lago-Baez. Subsequently, Diaz-Rojas fled Puerto Rico.

Investigators in Puerto Rico tracked Diaz-Rojas to Ohio and this afternoon members of the violent fugitive task force arrested Diaz-Rojas at an address near the 300 block of Lillian Street in Akron, Ohio. Diaz-Rojas was booked into the Summit County Jail where he will wait extradition back to Puerto Rico.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, "The reach of the US Marshals Service has no limits, and our officers will never stop pursuing our fugitives. Today was the culmination of a year and a half of hard work by law enforcement in Puerto Rico and here in northern Ohio."

Anyone with information concerning any wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can send a USMS tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force Akron Division consists of the following federal, state, and local agencies:

Akron Police Department, Barberton Police Department, Bath Township Police Department, Copley Township Police Department, Cuyahoga Falls Police Department, Hudson Police Department, Kent Police Department, New Franklin Police Department, Norton Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Reminderville Police Department, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Tallmadge Police Department, United States Marshals Service, United States Secret Service, University of Akron Police Department, Wayne County Court of Common Pleas.