Members of the U.S. Marshals-led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested a 35-year-old man early Wednesday following a lengthy standoff and house fire in Akron.
Tristan Dent was taken into custody after officers searched a home in the 200 block of Kenilworth Avenue. Dent was wanted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service on federal drug charges.
Authorities said Dent faces charges including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. He was indicted in January 2023 along with about a dozen others and was the only remaining fugitive in the case.
According to officials, task force members attempted to arrest Dent early Wednesday morning at the Kenilworth Avenue residence. Assistance was requested from the Akron Police Department SWAT team after Dent barricaded himself inside the home.
While SWAT officers were attempting to establish communication and persuade Dent to surrender, a fire broke out on the second floor of the residence. The Akron Fire Department responded and worked for several hours to bring the fire under control.
Once conditions were deemed safe, officers conducted a thorough search of the home and located Dent hiding behind a false wall near a dryer in the basement. He was taken into custody without further incident.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott thanked local agencies for their assistance, emphasizing safety during the operation.
“Our team is very thankful for the assistance from the Akron Police and Fire Departments today,” Elliott said in a statement. “The safety of our teams and the community is paramount. This is the third investigation closed this week by the NOVFTF for fugitives wanted for over a year, and this should be yet another reminder that the U.S. Marshals Service will not stop until their fugitive is caught.”
