U.S. Marshals Bust Escambia Sex Offender Trying To Bail Out 3rd Story Window

June 20, 2012

The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested a convicted sex offender Tuesday who tried to elude them by jumping out of a third story window.

At 3:30 p.m., the task force knocked on the door of a room at a hotel located on the 8200 block of North Davis Highway attempting to arrest James Erik Cross. When task force officers from the U.S. Marshals and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office knocked,they immediately heard someone throw back drapes and quickly open the window. They forced the door open and found the 32-year old Cross halfway out of the window head first.

“As we approached the building we spoke about covering the window but because of the height we really felt it wasn’t necessary,” said Inspector Dominic Guadagnoli. “We figured if he tried (to jump out the window) the chase pretty much would end there nonetheless,” said Guadagnoli.

Some of the task force officers immediately ran to the outside but others inside were able to stop Cross before he could go any further. Cross was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed without any incident.

A woman also in the room was later released after questioning. Officers also found a substance believed to be heroin and multiple hypodermic needles, according to U.S. Marshals. No additional charges have been filed at this time.

Cross was booked into the Escambia County jail without bond for violation of probation and two counts of failing to register as a convicted sex offender. He remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond.

Cross was originally convicted in Escambia County back in 1997 for sexual battery on a child under 12 years of age.

Comments

13 Responses to “U.S. Marshals Bust Escambia Sex Offender Trying To Bail Out 3rd Story Window”

  1. lc on July 14th, 2012 4:47 pm

    how could I ever help in any way ? serious ole’ lady here !!

    THANKYOU US MARSHALLS for your work !!

  2. Right One on July 2nd, 2012 6:59 am

    Erik Cross can run, but he can’t outrun the Feds. Thanks U.S. Marshalls! Good job! Gratifying to learn our System still works. It is imperative for Society to monitor these creeps in order to protect our children. Registering as a sexual offender is a viable means to inform the publc of an offender’s whereabouts. Cross didn’t want to register as a sexual offender. Ok, the child whom Cross violated didn’t want t be a victim either.

  3. Right One on July 2nd, 2012 5:59 am

    James Erik Cross can run, but he can’t run forever. He had no idea what he was up against when the Feds became involved in his sick world. Thanks U.S. Marshalls! Good Job! Justice, however, has not yet been served. Only when creeps like Cross re made to follow the provisions set forth at sentencing, will there be Justice for the victims. Our Country must monitor these predators’ activities in order to protect our children. OMG if Cross doesn’t want to register as a sexual predator. The children didn’t want to be Cross’ vicltim.

  4. Lynda Lee White on July 1st, 2012 8:16 pm

    It’s about time. Cross was convicted in 1997 yet he has
    consistently violated the
    provisions set forth in his Sentencing Order. I certainly
    hope the People vs. James Erik Cross’s

  5. Shame on June 22nd, 2012 11:14 pm

    It makes no difference if an establishment runs background checks or not if registered sex offenders are still allowed to LIVE that close to a school or day care. My child used to go to the one down the street from the Inn, so I listed the day care’s address so I would know if anyone living near by was a threat to my child. The second I searched the zip code, it pulled up nearly 25 men ALL registered to be living at the address of the Inn. I pulled my child from the day care immediately. Your coven of felons is a danger to the community. Plain and simple. There should be “no room at the Inn” on Davis Hwy and I hope you tell your potential traveling guests as they pass through town what kind of trash you allow to stay on your property. It’s sick. The fact that feel it necessary to run background checks says enough.

  6. David Huie Green on June 22nd, 2012 5:06 pm

    Interesting record keeping by the clerk of the court
    James Eric Cross is listed as born 1/30/79
    James Erik Cross is listed as born 7/30/79

    James Eric pled nolo to a lewd and lascivious act in front of a minor, possibly in exchange for dropping the two charges of Sexual battery on a child under age 12

    James Erik the one who runs into problems with not listing changes of address by a sexual predator.

    Assuming they’re actually the same person, it might be important to keep better records.

    If they’re not the same person, they should leave the innocent one alone (other than the $1250 or so James Erik has owed the courts on an unrelated matter for some twelve years now)and concentrate on the guilty one.

  7. employee of the hotel on June 21st, 2012 9:52 pm

    ACTUALLY this guy was not a registered guest at the hotel. We had not seen him until this happened and we frequently check rooms so he snuck in, obviously he was hiding for a reason. ALSO we now require background checks for our guests and have to get management approval before letting guests stay.

  8. Shame on June 21st, 2012 7:10 pm

    That hotel/inn is FULL of registered sex offenders. Check out the national registry and you’ll see. It’s right next to a school and down the street from a daycare. It’s sickening. Nothing but transients. It’s the same hotel that had the beatings happen at the other day/night. The hotel needs to be demolished.

  9. JM on June 21st, 2012 10:50 am

    And here is another one! Why would they EVER let some one out who dId ANYTHING so heinous to a CHILD? I can tell the JUDGES ARE MEN, my
    wife would have SINNED THIS CREEP ALIVE~

  10. Darko Sladovic on June 21st, 2012 10:06 am

    They didn’t “help” him out the window?

  11. brent on June 20th, 2012 4:50 pm

    50 years in prison is in order

  12. Steve on June 20th, 2012 9:53 am

    It would have been better if he jumped and landed head first from that window. Then it would really been one less pervert in jail without the possibility of parole.

  13. Fred on June 20th, 2012 7:00 am

    Glad he’s off the streets. Shame he was’nt let jump, it might have saved a bunce of tax dollars now to be spent on room, board and rehab. Personally I’m tired of picking up the tab for worthless trash like this.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News