‘Armed and dangerous’ fugitive captured in Coolidge, officials say

COOLIDGE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) -- Authorities have confirmed the search for an “armed and dangerous” fugitive in Pinal County has come to an end. Donald Hill was captured by U.S. Marshals in Coolidge around 9 p.m. Friday night and booked into Pinal County Adult Detention Center.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, officials received information that Hill was returning to Coolidge. Marshals, Pinal County deputies and Coolidge police spotted Hill in an apartment near California Street and Vah Ki Inn Road. He then walked outside the apartment and was taken into custody.

“The U.S. Marshals Task Force is dedicated to bringing together the resources of our federal, state and local partners to collectively work the most dangerous fugitive cases,” said Acting United States Marshal Van Bayless in a statement. “Donald Hill terrorized a neighborhood but was safely apprehended and won’t be doing it anytime soon.”

Sarah Wall knows Hill and lives in the apartment Hill was staying in when he was arrested, but she wasn’t there when it happened. Wall says he and Hill talked leading up to his arrest. “When he did call me, it’s not like he would tell me where he was at or anything like that. I had no idea where he was at. He told me he was very far away, but I didn’t know that he would actually take the risk that he’d come back here if he was so far away. I thought, well, he’s gone; maybe he went to Mexico. Why would he come here?”

“In my mind, justice is locking him up and giving him what he deserves,” said Lynette Jackson, who lives nearby.

Hill first went missing around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, prompting a lockdown for all schools. Coolidge police posted on social media asking people to avoid areas near 10th Place and Vah Ki Inn Road. U.S. Marshals were called to assist the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office in finding Hill, who was seen in the neighborhood. Hill was wanted on five counts of kidnapping and five counts of aggravated assault.

Parents spoke to Arizona’s Family just hours before Hill was captured. Shai Mcfarlen said she remembered seeing and hearing helicopters and SWAT teams searching for Hill earlier this week. “It’s very scary being outside, honestly, like I’m a woman with my two children, and this guy’s known for kidnapping and assault,” said Mcfarlen.

Neighbor Matt Fanning says authorities stopped him as the search continued near his neighborhood. “They had me wait and asked if they could have the SWAT team search the house for whoever they were looking for, and I let them do that. They were in there for about 20 minutes looking around, then they came out and let me in,” said Fanning.

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