Dangerous Arizona fugitive captured in Texas after multistate manhunt

PHOENIX – A dangerous Arizona fugitive who fled the state after cutting off his ankle monitor last month was captured in Texas, authorities announced Tuesday.

Alex Bangash, 23, was awaiting trial on multiple violent crimes, including seven counts of sexual assault, when he bolted on March 10, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Investigators learned he’d been working as a farm hand in rural Texas in exchange for room and board in an attempt to avoid being found.

How did authorities track down dangerous Arizona fugitive?

The U.S. Marshals joined Tempe Police Department Critical Investigations Unit on the search, which included multiple warrants and court orders to sniff out the dangerous Arizona fugitive’s trail through New Mexico and into Texas.

Bangash was located and taken into custody last Thursday. He will be extradited to Arizona to be prosecuted.

“Alex Bangash thought he could hide from the consequences of his actions,” U.S. Marshal Van Bayless said in a press release. “However, the U.S. Marshals considers the capture of sexual predators a priority, and with the cooperation of local and federal law enforcement agencies from multiple states and districts, he was found and brought to account for his actions.”

Tempe police originally arrested Bangash in September 2023 in connection with a string of crimes dating back to 2018.

One of his five alleged victims was a minor at the time of the attack.

He was initially denied bail due to the violent nature of the accusations against him, authorities said. But he later was allowed out of jail on a $250,000 cash-only bond under the condition that he wear an ankle monitor.

“This arrest brings us one step closer to justice for the survivors,” Tempe Police Chief Ken McCoy said in the release.

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