Alleged rapist caught in San Antonio

Fifty-two year old Willie R. Pitts from Abbeville was arrested in San Antonio Thursday evening at 6 p.m.

Pitts was charged by the Abbeville Police Department on July 28 for five counts of aggravated rape; Pitts’s allegedly raped a minor and will be held on a $500,000 bond.

On August 5, after detectives in Abbeville determined that Pitts had fled their jurisdiction, they called the US Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force for assistance. The US Marshals quickly began analyzing information and worked closely with the APD.

“Our first hunch was that Pitts had fled to either Alabama or Atlanta,” Det. Stan Suire said.

Prision records and parole records indicated that Pitts had family in those areas. However, late Wednesday evening, the fugitive investigation turned West to San Antonio where investigators received information that Pitts may be in the Texas town.

Although law enforcement officials worked through the night to find Pitts he was not found until Thursday when Pitts’ luck ran out.

Investigators learned that Pitts was residing with a family member on the 4600 block of Houston Street in San Antonio. Surveillance was established around the target residence. Pitts exited the residence, was positively identified and a traffic stop was conducted. Pitts denied his identity at first, but eventually realized that he was caught.

William Whittington, US Marshall for the Western District of Louisiana said, “The coordinated effort of all law enforcement to bring dangerous criminals to justice ensures that the streets and neighborhoods of Louisiana are a safer place to raise our children.”

Annually, investigations carried out by the US Marshals result in the apprehension of approximately 34,000 federal fugitives. More federal fugitives are arrested by Marshals than all other federal agencies combined.

Chief Rick Coleman would like to commend the detectives who worked in conjunction with the Marshals for a job well done.

Pitts will be transferred to Abbeville from San Antonio and held in the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center.