Trio a Force at Finding Fugitives
When Walworth County fugitive James A. Colwell was selling real estate in Costa Rica, he probably didn't realize there was a task force of deputies looking for him.

Sheriff's deputies Tim Ruszkiewicz and Gibby Maas said they spent an untold number of hours and days seeking Colwell, who for nearly two years eluded authorities by living in Costa Rica. Deputy Tim Rumer also assisted in the search for the convicted sex offender.

Colwell, 65, was wanted for probation violations. The former Fontana village trustee sexually assaulted a then 6-year-old girl in 1999 and was sentenced to one year in jail and 30 years probation.

"It's pretty satisfying after how much hard work was put in," Rumer said of Colwell's apprehension Dec. 21.

"He was the No. 1 guy we were looking for," Ruszkiewicz said. "He was the guy that we were spending the most time on. Our biggest target."

The three deputies are assigned to a special Fugitive Task Force within the department. All three are deputized as U.S. Marshals, which gives them the authority to cross county and state boundaries to apprehend wanted individuals.

Ruszkiewicz and Maas were the first officers with the task force when it started about two years ago. Rumer was deputized as a marshal last spring.

By cooperating with the U.S. Marshal's Office, the task of finding fugitives became easier.

"They have some resources that we just don't have," Ruszkiewicz said, such as nationwide contacts and enhanced computer network databases."

On the flip side, the local deputies have more knowledge of the area whenever the marshal's office needs assistance finding someone close to home.

"There's always cooperation and we've always worked well with them," Walworth County Sheriff David Graves said. "Whenever we call, we get good cooperation."

All three deputies work regular patrol beats, but they focus on finding fugitives as time allows.

"For our most serious warrants, one of us usually takes it and runs with it, working on different leads," Maas said. "We work on smaller ones at the same time, but when we get a serious warrant, we work on it as much as we can."

There are thousands of outstanding warrants to keep them busy.

Talking to friends, family and acquaintances usually yields the best results.

"Ex-wives and ex-girlfriends tell us a lot," Maas said. "They are the best resources for us."

Officers suspect Colwell was in contact with people he knew back in the states, but they were not always forthcoming.

That's why it's important to pursue anonymous tips, even though most are often dead ends.

Not in Colwell's case.

The task force received a tip that Colwell might have been working at a realty company in Costa Rica. The tipster led the officers to a Web site where Colwell was pictured with co-workers.

International warrants were issued, and Colwell was arrested. He is awaiting extradition back to Wisconsin.

"I interviewed a lot of people on it," Ruszkiewicz said. "A lot of them told me he liked to travel and of the various places he might have been. I'm not surprised he ended up there. Not that anyone mentioned (Costa Rica) specifically."