Marshals Capture Fugitive in L.A. Bar

An Arizona fugitive wanted on 62 felony counts, including multiple charges of sexual assault and kidnapping, has been arrested in downtown Los Angeles by U.S. marshals, authorities said Thursday.

After nearly 18 months of investigation, federal agents picked up Wayman “Catman” Walker Wednesday as he was drinking at the Golden Gopher bar in the 400 block of 8th Street.

Tuscon police spokeswoman Judy Altieri said authorities were able to track Walker through letters and phone calls he made over the past year to the Tuscon detectives investigating the case.

“It was good old police work on the part of the U.S. marshals,” said Altieri. “We gave them photos to distribute in the area about two months ago, and they’ve been knocking on doors and showing the pictures.”

In October, Walker, 51, was featured on the television show “America’s Most Wanted.” Police say they picked up a few leads from viewers who saw the show.

Walker is known as the “Catman” for his trademark cat burglaries. Police suspect him of sexually assaulting or abusing at least 10 women in and around Tuscon. He also is suspected of burglary, trafficking in stolen property, theft and robbery.

According to police, Walker would sneak into homes occupied by single women, entering through windows left open because of the summer heat.

In August 1999, a police surveillance tape showed a man later identified as Walker using one of the credit cards stolen in the attacks. That same month, after Walker was identified as a suspect in the assault cases, he fled authorities, leaving his pick-up truck at the Mexican border.

Golden Gopher bartenders said Thursday that authorities came by several days before Walker’s arrest and showed them photos of the suspect. “When I saw him, I knew it was him immediately,” said one bartender who asked not to be named. The bartender said after alerting police, she continued to talk to Walker and serve him beers to detain him until the authorities arrived. Walker surrendered peacefully, she said.

Walker is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center where he awaits arraignment.