U.S. Fugitive Arrested; Suspected of Child Cruelty

COSTA Rican authorities have arrestedU.S. citizen Mark Patrick Ariail, afugitive who is wanted in the UnitedStates to face accusations of violence andcruelty against minors, according to astatement from the International Police(Interpol).He was arrested Nov. 5 in BelloHorizonte de Escazú, west of San José.“Ariail is wanted for judgment beforethe Supreme Court of Carroll County,Georgia, for a formal accusation presentedJune 18, 2001,” in which he is implicatedin “six charges of cruelty againstminors (his two step-children), and onecharge of physical violence,” the statementread.“On March 30, 2001, the NorthAmerican was arrested for said charges.Later, he was granted bail,” according tothe statement.However, “Nov. 12, 2001, after notcomplying with an order to present himselfbefore the court, a judge issued anarrest warrant,” Interpol said.Authorities knew the man had enteredCosta Rica in November 2001, and livedwith a Costa Rican woman, according tothe statement.The Costa Rican First Circuit PenalCourt of San José is processing a requestmade by U.S. government authorities toextradite Ariail to the United States.–