Members of the U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force arrested a 50-year-old fugitive in West Seattle on Oct. 27 who was wanted on a felony warrant for attempted rape of a child and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

The suspect, Phillip Wayne Pitts, was apprehended without incident in the 5400 block of Delridge Way SW and booked into the King County Jail.

Pitts was initially arrested on April 5, 2024, during an operation led by the Washington Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a multijurisdictional group hosted by the Seattle Police Department to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. Following his failure to appear at a Feb. 23 court hearing, the King County Sheriff’s Office issued a felony warrant with a $100,000 bond, which was subsequently adopted by federal marshals.

The U.S. Marshals-led task force brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement officers across Washington, Oregon, and Alaska to locate and return violent fugitives to the justice system. Authorities encourage anyone with information regarding wanted fugitives to contact the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102 or submit a tip through the USMS Tips App.