U.S. Marshals Assist Fremont County Sheriff in Apprehending Violent Fugitive Suspected of Gun Burglary

Fremont County, CO – One of Fremont County’s most-wanted violent fugitives is behind bars after a multi-agency tactical operation which took place Tuesday evening near Penrose, Colorado.

Richard Capek, 35, was arrested by a United States Marshals Service tactical team from the agency’s Special Operations Group after a short standoff at a rural residence near Highway 50 and R Street, approximately five miles east of Penrose. Capek is wanted by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office on multiple outstanding arrest warrants, which include numerous felony charges. Capek is also a suspect in a residential burglary which occurred on July 11th, where multiple firearms were stolen from a residence in Rockvale, Colorado, approximately four miles southwest of Florence.

On July 5th, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service’s Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF) in locating and apprehending Capek on outstanding felony warrants for 2nd degree assault via strangulation, violation of a protection order, 3rd degree assault, and domestic violence. On July 11th, Fremont County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a burglary call at a residence in Rockvale where Capek was identified as a suspect.

Capek allegedly stole one AK-47 style rifle, three AR-15 style rifles, three shotguns, two handguns, and other items. On July 13th, an additional arrest warrant was issued for Capek for his alleged involvement in the burglary, which charged him with two counts of felony burglary, felony theft, felony motor vehicle theft, felony attempted motor vehicle assault, and other charges.

Detectives from the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office worked together with investigators from the COVOTF to narrow down a potential residence of where Capek was staying. Because of the rural nature of the residence, Capek’s violent criminal history, and his alleged theft of multiple firearms, the COVOTF requested additional assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service’s Special Operations Group (SOG). Several days of surveillance eventually resulted in Capek being located, despite him taking specific steps to avoid detection by law enforcement. 

On July 23rd, COVOTF surveillance units identified an individual who was suspected to be Capek. Investigators followed the individual and positively identified him after stopping at a business in Penrose. Capek then returned to the rural Penrose residence where COVOTF team members and Fremont County Sheriff’s deputies established a perimeter around the residence. The USMS SOG team then approached the residence and contacted two other occupants of the home. Capek initially refused commands to exit the residence, but eventually came out and surrendered to law enforcement. USMS SOG operators took Capek into custody and then turned him over to Fremont County Sheriff’s deputies. Once Capek was in custody, the property was turned over to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office who executed a search warrant on the residence as part of their on-going investigation.

Capek was transported by Fremont County Sheriff’s deputies to the Fremont County jail where he was booked on the multitude of outstanding warrants. He currently remains in custody pending his appearance in court. Capek is presumed innocent on the pending charges until proven guilty.

“On behalf of the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, I would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance with this apprehension. They were able to provide resources such as technical equipment and additional manpower that contributed to a successful resolution in apprehending this wanted fugitive”. – Fremont County Sheriff Allen Cooper 

“Apprehending violent, dangerous fugitives is one of the U.S. Marshals Service’s primary missions, and one we take very seriously here in Colorado” said Kirk Taylor, the U.S. Marshal for the District of Colorado. “This case presented some unique challenges, but combining the vast array of both local and federal resources, we were able to safely apprehend Mr. Capek and bring him in for his day in court.”

The U.S. Marshals Service would like to thank the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Colorado State Patrol, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, Otero County Sheriff’s Office, Fountain Police Department, and Colorado Department of Corrections for their assistance and joint cooperation in this investigation.

The Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF) is a multi-jurisdictional fugitive task force that targets the most violent offenders to include those wanted for murder, assault, sex offenses, and other serious offenses throughout the state and country. 

The U.S. Marshals Service’s Special Operations Group (SOG) is a specially trained, rapidly deployable law enforcement element of the United States Marshals Service. Capable of conducting complex and sensitive operations throughout the globe intended to further the rule of law. SOG leverages these enhanced capabilities in support of the Marshals Service mission and the Department of Justice to protect, defend, and enforce the federal judicial system.

Nationally, the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.