A man accused of harassing and terrorizing over a dozen people in Philadelphia while wearing a “distinctive” mask earlier this month was arrested in Las Vegas on Tuesday, authorities announced.
Zymire Hughes, 22, was arrested Tuesday by the U.S. Marshals Service and is being held in the Clark County Detention Center as he awaits extradition back to Pennsylvania, the U.S. Marshals Service said in a social media post.
Hughes is accused of accosting multiple people in Philadelphia’s Center City area while wearing a “baby doll style Halloween mask” during a more than 30-minute period on the morning of Aug. 12, according to police.
Philadelphia Police Department – PHOTO: Zymire Hughes is seen in a photo released by the Philadelphia Police Department.
Masked suspect accused of terrorizing people in Philadelphia identified: Police
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“Tonight, the fear that one man brought to the Philadelphia community comes to an end,” Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert Clark told reporters Tuesday night.
Clark said Hughes fled the Philadelphia area on Aug. 19 from the Trenton Mercer Airport in Ewing, New Jersey. He first flew to Orlando and then to Las Vegas, Clark said, before authorities tracked him down at an apartment complex in southeast Las Vegas. Clark said Hughes has been a Las Vegas resident since February but has family in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Police Capt. Jason Smith told reporters last week that there were believed to be 15 to 16 people that the suspect was running up to and “attempting to harass” while wearing a “Chucky-style Halloween mask.”
In one instance captured on surveillance video, Smith said the masked suspect chased a female jogger whom he allegedly asked, “Are you ready to die?” The victim ran away screaming for help, “severely” injuring her leg during the ordeal, according to Smith.
Philadelphia Police Department – PHOTO: Police in Philadelphia said Monday they are looking for an individual who is accused of harassing and terrorizing people while wearing a “distinctive Chucky doll Halloween-style face mask.”
Suspect wearing ‘Chucky doll’ face mask accused of terrorizing people in Philadelphia: Police
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The 40-year-old woman stumbled, sustaining an injury, police said.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said the suspect was wanted on felony and misdemeanor charges and urged others who may have been victimized to come forward.
ABC News’ Meredith Deliso contributed to this report.
