An American fugitive who allegedly faked his own death before being discovered at a Scots hospital has been arrested.
Nicholas Rossi, 34, was detained in the Woodlands area of Glasgow on Thursday, January 20 after an arrest warrant was issued for him earlier today.
He had been discovered Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in the city last month where he had been receiving Covid-19 treatment, and was arrested and but later bailed.
Rossi was found in the intensive care unit where he was on a ventilator after medical staff identified him from supplied photographs.
He was first arrested by Police Scotland on Monday, December 13, 2021 and appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court via video link from the hospital that day,
Prosecutors did not reveal the specific details on how Rossi was found but said that it was due to “diligent investigative efforts.”
Wanted in the state of Utah in the USA on rape and fraud charges, he later received bail.
A bail review on his case was then heard at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, November 20.
Fiscal depute Clare Kennedy said the Crown was seeking a warrant for Rossi as he was deemed a “flight risk.”
It’s understood the fugitive had previously told authorities that he doesn’t have a passport.
The court was told that Rossi was not in attendance as he was still unwell and Sheriff Alistair Noble granted an arrest warrant.
Following his arrest he is now due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday, 21 January, 2022 and faces being sent back to America.
Rossi, who was using the alias Arthur Knight, was also wanted by Interpol.
His fingerprints and DNA were taken with the details passed to Interpol officials.
He is thought to have also previously used the names Nicholas Alahverdian, Nick Alan, Nicholas Brown and Arthur Brown.
David Leavitt, Utah County Attorney, previously said he was confident that the bail conditions would be closely monitored by police.
He said: “Ultimately, the decision regarding bail is left to the international courts until Mr Rossi is extradited to the United States.”
“We have been working with our federal and international partners to provide the information regarding Mr Rossi’s flight risk.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers arrested a 34-year-old man in the Woodlands area of Glasgow today, Thursday, 20 January, 2022, in connection with an arrest warrant.
"He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday, 21 January, 2022.”
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