Man wanted for murder, arrested in Cedar Rapids by U.S. Marshals Service

CEDAR RAPIDS - A man wanted on a first-degree murder charge was arrested Friday in Cedar Rapids by members of the U.S. Marshals Service.

According to a news release, Justin Smith, 31, had been identified as a suspect in a November 2016 homicide in Chicago. A warrant for his arrest was issued on June 26. Upon further investigation, it was learned that Smith had likely fled the state, and a Marshals Service fugitive task force was requested to assist in the search, according to the release.

Marshals working in Illinois, Kentucky and Iowa, along with the Chicago Police Fugitive Unit, narrowed the search for Smith to a residence in the 2000 block of Glass Road NE in Cedar Rapids.

Early Friday afternoon, following hours of surveillance, marshals identified Smith exiting the residence, according to the release. The Marshals Service was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol and the Cedar Rapids Police Department in conducting a traffic stop on Smith's vehicle on Interstate 380, one mile north of Interstate 80. Smith was taken into custody without incident, along with another occupant of the vehicle who was taken into custody on unrelated charges, according to the release.

Smith was taken to the Linn County Correctional Center and will later be extradited back to Illinois, the release states.