An off-duty police officer could not believe his luck when holidaying in Disney World he spotted a fugitive who had been on the run for nearly a year.
Federal postal inspector Jeff Andre was strolling through Animal Kingdom in Florida when he spotted a criminal that his force had been searching for — Quashon Burton, from New York.
The 31-year-old fugitive has a unique cursive letter H tattoo on his neck and Mr Andre could not believe his eyes when he walked past.
Mr Burton fled his Brooklyn home last November after being accused of fraudulently obtaining coronavirus relief aid, WDWNT reported.
He was accused of stealing the identities of at least four people in order to fraudulently take out government PPP loans meant to help businesses struggling during the pandemic, according to the federal complaint.
In total, he allegedly stole about $150,000 (£134,000) in forgivable federal loans.
Prosecutors said Burton “has clearly demonstrated an ability to mask his true identity to evade law enforcement. So too has he demonstrated a willingness to lie about this identity to avoid arrest.”
While on the run, Burton allegedly continued to use fake identities, including for his visit to Disney World.
Andre did not apprehend Burton but called the Orange County Sheriff’s Office as soon as he made the sighting and told them that a fugitive was in the amusement park, according to a sheriff’s report.
Police confirmed that Andre was a federal postal inspector and reviewed a photograph of Burton before they confronted him an hour later as he waited at a bus stop with two of his family members, the report said.
During the arrest, Andre refused to provide his ID and had to be tackled to the ground for the arrest, as he resisted.
He then refused to admit he was Quashon Burton even after fingerprints proved his true identity.
He was charged with resisting arrest and handed over into federal custody.
Prosecutors in New York urged Burton to remain in custody, calling him “an extreme risk of absconding.” On Thursday, Judge Lewis Kaplan of the Southern Circuit of New York agreed, ruling that he should be held without bail before his trial.
